Baseball News from L.A. Times

On heels of Sabathia and Burnett signings, New York agrees to an eight-year deal with free-agent first baseman.  The New York Yankees flexed their financial muscles — again — Tuesday, stunning the baseball world by snagging first baseman Mark Teixeira with an eight-year, $180 million deal, outbidding their archrivals, the Boston Red Sox, and the Angels in the process. Continue reading on L.A. Times

Put me on the list of people who think this signing is another reason the New York Yankees are ruining baseball.  They give players the unrealistic expectation that they are worth far more than their real value.  They give the agents a leg up on all negotiations w/ other teams, because they can always fall back on the Yankees if they have a top-name free agent.

In this case, Mark Teixeira is in no way worth the 3rd highest non-pitcher contract in MLB history – behind other Yankees, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.  Mark is a journeyman 1st baseman who has been traded more times in the past year and a half than a white elephant gift this Christmas.  Sure, he is an offensive threat and a pretty good 1st baseman, but he is not worth that much money… The Yankees paid him $20 million more than the Boston Red Sox had bid.  That in itself, should tell you how ridiculous this signing is by New York.  WIth their other recent acquisitions, the New York Yankees payroll increased over $400 million for 3 players – 3 freakin’ players.

The signing is no guarantee that the Yankees will win – shoot, it hasn’t worked the past 8 yrs so why would it now.  While I will still root for the Yankees in general, there will be a part of me that hopes they crash & burn again this year.  Only this time, I hope that the organization is somehow affected financially and they are forced to start changing their free-spending ways.

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