Breaking News: Yankees To Sign Mark Teixeira

[love_that_reefer]

****ing Tim Kurkjian just said on ESPNEWS that the Yankees are now the team to beat Sorry Timmy but the Rays are still the team to beat!

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Yeah I agree Reefer. Offseason moves don't mean shit until they're put into play. Winning is all that matters. The Phillies are still the team to beat in the NL East, not the Mets. And the Rays/Red Sox (Rays moreso) are still the teams to beat in the AL East

[ljshorty89]

That phrase is always causing problems, isn't it?

[love_that_reefer]

That phrase is always causing problems, isn't it?

Just with realistic common sense folk.

[HollywoodLeo]

Its irrelevant? How is it that a small market team outbid the big market team but its irrelevant? Your whole point was that small market teams can't compete with the big boys. Seems right on topic to me. The Yankees are a storied franchise, the Nationals aren't. If he was all about the money, he would be a National!

2 points you're overlooking here.

1. Obviously it's not all about the money for him, but that doesn't negate the fact that the Yankees had to fork over 180 million over 8 years to ink him.

2. Mark Tiexierra is one player. Sure, the Nationals had an outrageous offer on the table for him. But did they also have an equally outrageous offer on the table for CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Manny Ramirez?

Do they already have an outrageous contract for Alex Rodrituez?

Come on, man. You're being purposely naive here to try and make a futile point.

The Nationals tried to give one outrageous contract to one player to attempt to gain PR. The Yankees give it to the entire free agent market all at once.

Yes, their win rate does matter!! How the **** could it not?? They had a record payroll last year and did not even make the playoffs!! It doesn't matter how much they spend! Spending does not equal winning. Small market teams can and do keep their home grown talent. Franchises are not having problems fielding teams and the small market teams get help from the Yankees overspending. Every year people ****ing ***** and moan about salary caps but yet every year new teams get into the playoffs. Its stupid and its not needed. If the big guys aren;t winning titles and the small market teams are, what is your problem?

Their record doesn't matter because they're still preventing small market teams from being able to keep their talent regardless of whether or not their efforts work for them.

Does CC default back to Milwaukee or Cleveland if the Yankees don't win the World Series? Do smaller market teams get an opportunity to sign Mark Teixerra to a reasonable contract if the Yankees lose in the playoffs?

NO. They're still relegated to signing Clay Hensleys and Jody Geruts and hoping the work out.

[HollywoodLeo]

It doesn't prevent anything! Just because the Yankees overpay on top free agents means another team can't get better?

Other teams can get better, but they're forced to find creative ways to do it, such as "money ball".

The Yankees aren't hampered by this.

My entire argument is based off the inequality that is created by the asinine no-salary cap system.

The Yankees are perfectly capable and able to 1) build a farm and 2) make smart acquisitions just like any other team in the league.

Smaller market teams are forced to do that because they don't have all the options available to them that the Yankees and Red Sox and other large markets do. (IE Free Agency)

I don't understand how you can't seem to comprehend the inequality that exists in the system.

[HollywoodLeo]

Hollywood - No chance for a salary cap nor should there be.

I agree with the first part of this statement.

The MLBPA will never allow it no matter how much sense it makes.

[HollywoodLeo]

Pathetic!!!! How pathetic to fill a gaping hole in their lineup!! What terrible ownership!!! Who spends the money they have? (of course, you wouldn't know anything about that as a Braves fan)

Give me a ****ing break.

Must be nice to be a fan of a team that can throw around 180 million dollar contracts like candy.

I wish the Padres had that kind of financial freedom.

[love_that_reefer]

Purposely being naive? I can say the same about you. Small market teams keep winning which means there is no problem!! You can cry all day about it but the fact remains $$$ doesn't buy you everything.

Small market teams CAN keep their home grown talent. Teams do it all the time! Small market teams have to be thrifty with their money but doesn't block them from being a competitive, championship worthy team. Its nonsense!

[HollywoodLeo]

Maybe if all the mega-billionares that own teams like the Rangers, Royals, and other teams decided they cared about their baseball team, then a salary cap wouldn't be needed.

It's nice to see teams like the Orioles and Nats ponying up the money though, it shows they want to start to win. Maybe the Royals can take a hint....

Even if the Royals owner wasn't such a cheapskate he still wouldn't be able to spend half the money Steinbrenner can afford to spend.

A silly concept about businesses is they like to make money.

[ljshorty89]

Pettitte could be the odd man out | The LoHud Yankees Blog

Interesting to find where the salary line is drawn. According to Peter Abraham of the Journal News, the Yankees don't want to add any more salary(NOW you decide that), and that unless they can dump one of their extra hitters, there may not be room for Pettite.

Abraham also reports that the Yankees do not want to use Swisher in center(I guess I was wrong), and would rather not use Damon in center either. Unfortunately, one of them will have to play center unless Swisher or Matsui is traded, and then maybe Gardner or Melky plays center.

[love_that_reefer]

Other teams can get better, but they're forced to find creative ways to do it, such as "money ball".

The Yankees aren't hampered by this.

My entire argument is based off the inequality that is created by the asinine no-salary cap system.

The Yankees are perfectly capable and able to 1) build a farm and 2) make smart acquisitions just like any other team in the league.

Smaller market teams are forced to do that because they don't have all the options available to them that the Yankees and Red Sox and other large markets do. (IE Free Agency)

I don't understand how you can't seem to comprehend the inequality that exists in the system.

I see the inequality in payrolls but I also see it doesn't matter!! Teams still have to make smart decisions and plan ahead. Yankees can go spend as much as they want and it doesn;t bother me because it doesn't mean no other team can sign big free agents and it doesn;t automatically give them a championship. Crying about it is just stupid!

[love_that_reefer]

I agree with the first part of this statement.

The MLBPA will never allow it no matter how much sense it makes.

The system now makes sense and isn't broken.

[HollywoodLeo]

Small market teams have to be thrifty with their money

Thank you, that's exactly my point.

The Yankees (and Red Sox) don't have this crutch.

I never once said a small market team can't be competitive, you just keep telling me that's what I'm suggesting.

All I'm saying is it's harder for them to be competitive than the Yankees and Red Sox because they can't throw around 100 million dollar contracts like candy.

If the Yankees make a dumbass signing that proves to be a mistake (Giambi) , no big deal they'll just make another one. (Teixerra)

If the Padres make a dumbass signing/extension that proves to be a mistake (Ryan Klesko) they're up the shit creek without a paddle and have to wait until the contract runs out or hope some dumbass GM will take the contract from them.

[browntown653]

It's nice to see teams like the Orioles and Nats ponying up the money though, it shows they want to start to win. Maybe the Royals can take a hint....

Are you kidding me? Who are the Orioles and Nats ponying up to? A guy they didn't sign??? And yeah, you're right the Royals should really take a hint from those two teams...

2008 Standings
Kansas City 75-87
Baltimore 68-93
Washington 59-102

C'mon man, there's no way you can make that argument.