Are they still the front runners for Lowe too?

[Padres]

Yankees team salary this decade :

2008: $209,081,577
2007: $189,639,045
2006: $194,663,079
2005: $208,306,817
2004: $184,193,950
2003: $152,749,814
2002: $125,928,583
2001: $112,287,143

Things went so well in 2005 the Yanks decided to repeat that high water mark - oh wait, the White Sox snuck in that year ... I mean in 2008 - what, they weren't in the playoffs ... Well screw it anyway - they decided to just blow the lid off in 2009:

Mark Teixeira will get an eight-year deal worth $170 million-$180 million from the Yankees, according to SI.com and ESPN.

That's essentially $30 million per year for a team now seemingly committed to paying the luxury tax for the foreseeable future.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... LB&id=3329

Yankees signed RHP A.J. Burnett, who had been with the Blue Jays, to a five-year, $82.5 million contract.

... He will average $16.5 million per season, which is a nice raise from the $12 million per year that he would have earned in the final two seasons of his contract with the Jays.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... LB&id=2880

Yankees signed LHP CC Sabathia, who had been with the Brewers, to a seven-year, $161 million contract.

Sabathia landed a full no-trade clause and opt-out clause as part of the biggest contract ever given to a pitcher. He's set to make $23 million per season, and if that isn't enough for him after the 2011 season, he'll be able to make himself a free agent again at age 31.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... LB&id=3149

[Giants]

Check out my blog post and vote there...

[Tigers]

The Steinbrenner's have definately decided to spend their way to a championship come hell or high water.

[Yankees]

For the record, Teix is ONLY $22.5 mill per year - not $30 mill.

[Royals]

For the record, Teix is ONLY $22.5 mill per year - not $30 mill.

What they're saying in that quote is considering the luxury tax it's actually more like $30m, which is a fair consideration when a team is pretty much a lock to pay it.

[Padres]

The aforementioned luxury tax is a feeble attempt at some sort of control via a combination of "tax the rich" and 'revenue sharing" principals, and it clearly isn't controlling salaries. It is, however, the best we will likely see and at least places some money in the hands of small market teams to use for drafts, international signings, etc.

Reality is that Tampa Bay and Colorado have won pennants the last two years on low payrolls and good player development. Phillies' success was built mostly on their drafting - Rollins, Howard, Utley, Hamels, the players traded for Lidge and Blanton, etc. Keith Law said in a recent chat, "I think for a GM to complain about the magnitude of his payroll is absurd. It's just a given and you probably knew it when you took the job anyway. A GM might argue over smaller amounts - an extra million for international scouting - but to whine about having $60 million instead of $100 million? So your job's a little harder. If you don't like it, there are a dozen qualified people in the game who'd gladly take on the challenge." I certainly don't agree with all that Mr. Law has to say but I strongly agree with his thought process on this subject. Later on in this chat he said, "I think it would be smarter to get mad at the actual decisions the GMs make - the time your GM threw away a draft pick by not offering arbitration to a free agent, or took Daniel Moskos with five better prospects on the board who'd sign for slot. Money is rarely the main obstacle preventing a team from succeeding. It's usually incompetence, acute or chronic."

I personally don't like the outrageous salary growth in baseball - particularly in this economic environment - but it is now part of the game/business. Though "the Steinbrenner's have definitely decided to spend their way to a championship come hell or high water" - or try to - I will still insist, at this point in time, that they do not have the best team in baseball - simply the most expensive.

[Dodgers]

I thought I remembered reading something that because the Yankees were building a new stadium they wouldn't have to pay as much in luxury taxes, but now I can't seem to find an article mentioning it. Anyone remember something along those lines?

[Padres]

I personally don't like the outrageous salary growth in baseball - particularly in this economic environment - but it is now part of the game/business. Though "the Steinbrenner's have definitely decided to spend their way to a championship come hell or high water" - or try to - I will still insist, at this point in time, that they do not have the best team in baseball - simply the most expensive.

This is a tad long ... but worth reading. Received it from a friend of mine this morning as we have been discussing this very subject:

It sickens me to hear that someone gets paid that much money to do something I dreamed of doing for free (only 1000% better than I can). Unfortunately, it is a business and an entertainment industry, so they justify their salaries as being part of a show or an 8 month movie. But it would be better if more guys gave like Tony Clark or Dave Winfield; handing out to those less fortunate what they have been blessed with.

There would be nothing to stop me from paring down my salary to benefit the greater good. That would make the community better and it would make each at bat that much more special. Alas, that sentiment is rare in professional sports... but there are some who do give.

I don't like hearing the insane riches bestowed on athletes, but their industry is unique. I love my Yankees but it doesn't cloud my judgement. The business of baseball is greedy and the Yankees are playing that game to the fullest.

I want to tell you something, though, and I don't tell this story often...

My grandfather is ill. He has suffered a kidney transplant, a heart surgery, has an artificial hip and now is pummeled by cancer. He is the greatest man in the world to me and he is the most faithful Christian I could fathom. He served his country, his family, his children and he still believes in the good of humanity after all he has been through.

He taught me the knuckleball, how to swing a bat and he taught me how to field grounders. He taught me to respect baseball and he gave me the will to play professionally. He was a pitcher/3B for Clarkson University before he went to war. He was scouted by the Reds and he could hit, field and throw a mean knuckler. After the war, he hung up his cleats to create a family; a decision some people could second-guess, but he has never looked back. Like his father before him, he is a Yankee fan. Things were different back then and the Yankees ruled the Northeast and much of the country in popularity.

As he went through a terrible round of chemotherapy in February of 2007, I wrote letters to Brian Cashman and George Steinbrenner. I asked them if they could honor my grandfather and select him in the amateur draft. I just wanted his name to be finally called; that he would get something back for his life in baseball and as a genuine person. I wanted him to know that baseball could give back.

Almost immediately, I was telephoned by Mr. Steinbrenner's office. Legally, they could not draft him, but he was deeply touched by my grandfather's story. A week and a half later, a large envelope arrived at my Pa Pa's house. It was from the Yankees. Inside, there was a picture of George, signed to my grandfather personally. That was nice, but the gift became more personal. A letter accompanied the picture which said that he was welcome to come to Yankee Stadium and lace up his spikes again. The letter detailed how the Yankees accept people into their family who display courage and respect and it was agreed by Cashman, Torre and Jeter that the invite was real. He was commended for his service to the country and his impact on his family for the teachings of baseball and life.

My Pa couldn't travel and still cannot. He can't take Mr. Steinbrenner up on his offer to this day and he will never see Yankee Stadium again. But this one genuine gesture made me realize the humanity that exists in that office. He didn't have to call me. He didn't have to write the letter, send the picture or extend the invitation. But, he did.

I can hate the politics and business of baseball, but I know that there are people like George Steinbrenner who bring you back to the essence of giving and the trueness of baseball.

Best Holiday wishes and a very Merry Christmas to you.

[Mets]

Sadly, I think the Mets may overpay for Lowe....He's worth $13m to me as a Mets fan, but not $15-16M, especially with the Yanks seemingly out, and the BoSox having limited interest.

I'm really hoping the Mets snag Nady from the Yanks now, assuming they'll want to free up money to go after Manny...yeah, I said it.

[Padres]

Yankees team salary this decade :

2008: $209,081,577
2007: $189,639,045
2006: $194,663,079
2005: $208,306,817
2004: $184,193,950
2003: $152,749,814
2002: $125,928,583
2001: $112,287,143

Things went so well in 2005 the Yanks decided to repeat that high water mark - oh wait, the White Sox snuck in that year ... I mean in 2008 - what, they weren't in the playoffs ... Well screw it anyway - they decided to just blow the lid off in 2009:

Another take on this from Will Carroll:

So the Yankees have signed Mark Teixeira. Along with CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, they’ve committed a load of money to three of the top free agents available this year, making everyone cry “checkbook” at Cashman and Company.

Thing is, the Yankees payroll has gone down at this point. I’m not the math guy or business guy around here, but using the available contract figures and terms, the Yankees are just south of $200 million before arbitration. With players like Melky Cabrera and Xavier Nady eligible, that figure (around $186m) will go up, but not significantly.

Yes, the Yankees spent a lot of money, but they didn’t suddenly spend money they didn’t have. They used money coming off the books and backloaded to work with money that’s coming off the books next year as well. I’m not defending them against charges that they’re “buying championships” but I would like to see some acknowledgement that the Yankees aren’t in some new era of spending. They’re just still spending, like they always have.

Add in some interesting ways of looking at the Marginal Revenue per Win calculations might make this make even more financial sense as the economy continues to turn down. With all the comparisons of 1931 and 2008, it’d be interesting to know what the payroll was on this 107-win monster.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1135

[Padres]

Another perspective:

The base salary for Burnett, Sabathia, and Teixeira is more than the 2008 Opening Day total player payrolls of the Pirates ($48,689,783), Athletics ($47,967,126), Rays ($43,820,597), and Marlins ($21,811,500).

If you throw in the signing bonuses you can add the Royals ($58,245,500), Twins ($56,932,766), and Nationals ($54,961,000) — seven clubs, or more than 23 percent of the league.

With signing bonuses added to base salary, Teixeira ($25 million), and Sabathia ($23 million) will earn more than the entire 2008 Marlins Opening Day roster.

Looking back at the total over the life of the three contracts, at $423.5 million, you could have paid for the second (Mets, at $137,793,376), third (Tigers, at $137,685,196), and fourth highest (Red Sox, at $133,390,035) Opening Day payrolls in 2008, and still had enough pocket change left to nearly add in all of the Marlins Opening Day player payroll ($21,811,500). Those four clubs had a total Opening Day player payroll of $430,680,107 for 2008.

But if you throw in other contracts of the Yankees, the figures get truly cartoonish:

The Yankees now have four of the highest contracts in all of MLB (Alex Rodriguez has the largest in all of baseball at $275 million over 10 years, while Derek Jeter is second at $189 million over 9 years, on top of the Teixeira deal and Sabathia deals). Those four have combined contract totals of a staggering $805 million, or $205 million more than the cost of the Mets’ Citi Field.

The total base salaries of A-Rod ($32 million), Jeter ($20 million), Teixeira ($20 million), and Sabathia ($14 million) for 2009 will be $86 million, or more than the Opening Day payrolls of more than half the league last year (Brewers, Indians, Giants, Reds, Padres, Rockies, Rangers, Orioles, Diamondbacks, Royals, Twins, Nationals, Pirates, Athletics, Rays, and Marlins).

And, just think… Manny Ramirez is still out there.

http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=41