Will the New York Yankees spend more due to Boston winning?

Will the New York Yankees spend more due to Boston winning?


The topic of 189 million has been going on for months now. To be honest it probably has been going on for years now. The 2 014 season is one that has been marked for the New York Yankees to get under 189 million. The reasons are simple; the luxury tax savings are immense for them. There is great incentive to being under that number. What are the reasons not to be under it, well that can be simple also? Lets take a look at both sides of the argument and if the Boston Red Sox winning will change anything.

I think it is possible to be under 189 million and field a championship team; there are certain factors that can affect it though. I also believe that you are going to have to spend money for guys like Robinson Cano to resign, for a catcher and pitching. The New York Yankees biggest problem could be the money they have locked up in Alex Rodriguez. The Yankees may get luck and get out of that for at least this year, which is the big year. If he is suspended and they save that approximately 30 million then they are in great shape.

The real question though is will the Yankees act differently now that their archrival the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. I would say yes for sure, I couldn’t imagine anyone in the Yankees hierarchy not being upset about the Red Sox winning. I think the fans are more upset and will make it harder for them to not go the extra mile. The Yankees really have to look at everything because their attendance was down last year and their TV ratings were down. A big reason for this was because of all the injuries and lack of star power. The Yankees can act however they want but they will always be the Yankees and they have to keep that in mind.

It is very hard for a team in New York and a team called the Yankees to act frugal. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds?? It may be but it is definitely not going to be easy for them. They have a lot of holes to fill but at the same time has a lot of money coming off the books.

Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte retired; they are going to be rid of Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. Curtis Granderson was just given a qualifying offer of 1 yr and 14.1 million. If he accepts it is less then he got last year and if he doesn’t he is a free agent. The Yankees have Alfonso Soriano and Vernon Wells for next year but other teams are mainly paying them. Mark Teixeira is under contract and Derek Jeter is also. The Yankees need a catcher most likely, or at least an upgrade of what they had. They potentially will lose Hiroki Kuroda to free agency or retirement. If this is the case they need two starting pitchers, free agent pitchers cost a lot of money.

It will be very interesting to see what they do as they have already been linked to some big names. Tanaka is a pitcher out of Japan that they are expected to bid highly on, remember the bidding doesn’t count against the 189. They are expected to sign a catcher such as Brian McCann or Jarrod Saltalamacchia. They need possibly a DH and another starting pitcher. I think they can accomplish all of this and still be at 189 or below.

I don’t have the exact numbers those for those under contract and the arbitration eligible players but it looks promising to me.

This may be the most interesting Yankees off-season in a couple of decades though anyway you look at it. The bottom line is I do expect the Yankees to be more aggressive because of the Red Sox winning. It is hard for them not to be angry and more competitive because they are right in their face.

Mets GM speaks out about the owner

After tonight’s 11-1 loss to the Cubs, Sandy Alderson spoke with reporters about the comments made by Fred Wilpon about the team in the New Yorker and now there is a story coming out with Sports Illustrated and he essentially said this:



He doesn’t think Wilpon’s comments were “well chosen” in the interview with the New Yorker.

He has not spoken with the players, but intends to do so at some point.

There is no way to predict what will happen with Jose Reyes, or anyone else, based on what Wilpon said in the article.

He has not read the Sports Illustrated article yet.

The team needs to get past the article in the New Yorker before they deal with the article in Sports Illustrated.

He isn’t aware of the team’s payroll falling below $100 million in 2012, but isn’t comfortable with that notion either.

The Vasquez trade

There are several things that come out of this trade, first of all the Yankees have a very solid rotation. The 5th starter will be a competition between Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Sergio Mitre, Chad Gaudin and Alfredo Aceves. It is assumed that Phil Hughes will get the job and Joba will head back to the bullpen but that isn't set in stone, everything has to be earned in the Yankees world and according to Brian Cashman the GM. Joel Sherman of the NY Post was reporting that Mitre and Gaudin could be trade bait now probably in spring training. The Yankees reiterated once again today that Granderson is the CF and the only way he won't be is if Brett Gardner is the best centerfielder in spring training which I don't see happening. I do think they will get a leftfielder but I have no idea who, I could see Damon coming back now. Brian Cashman said today he will not get anyone big for leftfield but we have heard this before so who knows, I don't see them getting Bay or Holliday but I could see Damon coming back or maybe Mark DeRosa. Here are some quotes from Javier Vasquez: " I am glad to be back, I am excited to be part of the team again. Everyone that knows me knows that I didn't want to leave the first time, I am just happy to be back." He also talked about his 2004 season with the Yankees and had this to say. " My arm didn't feel as good in the second half as it did in the first half. It really was the first time in my career and only time that I felt that my arm wasn't where it should of been. I started getting treatment later then I should have. I went out there every 5 days, I hated not being out there. It may have been my mistake, I didn't say anything." Javier Vasquez is the first player the Yankees have traded for twice since Jeff Nelson. Here are some quotes from Yankees GM Brian Cashman. " He is a tremendous pitcher who has a long career of success and durability, and really the second half of 04 which was poor can't erase the long success he has had as a major league pitcher." Cashman was talking about his 04 season. On Hughes and Joba he said whoever doesn't win the 5th spot in the rotation could go to the bullpen or AAA, I just don't see either of them going back to AAA. On the payroll, " I do have a number and we will be at that number and it will be less then last year. I will continue to look at any remaining piece for the outfield but it won't be a big piece."