Yankees Exercise Abreu's Option For '08

As expected, the Yankees have exercised Bobby Abreu's $16MM option for 2008.  While it's a little pricey, the cost certainty and one-year commitment made it an easy decision.

The Yankees may have an outfielder to spare, with Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon, and Hideki Matsui all under contract for 2008.  Of course since the DH and 1B spots aren't both tied up by Jason Giambi, Joe Girardi could definitely work with his current roster and get everyone the necessary ABs.

By my calculation the Yankees will have roughly $135MM worth of contracts for 2008 if Andy Pettitte exercises his option.  They're typically in the $190-210MM range.  Another $28MM for Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera and they still have at least $37MM to spend.  They'll throw the bank at Mike Lowell if they get the chance.  Even then there's $25MM left over.  I could see a Francisco Cordero signing for lack of a better way to spend the cash.  How do you see the Yankees spending $25MM? 

Comments

[Hammondsbird]

I hear Alex Rodriguez is available

[Joe159]

That $37MM looks just about right for A-Rod, too. Then next year with Giambi and Pavano's money coming off the books, that frees up another $30MM. Johan, anyone?

I'm not saying they should or will, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Rodriguez back for the Yankees.

[Andrew]

The Yankees are in no way mandated to spend $200 million.

With the immense amount of talent they have in the minors, by 2009 or 2010, the Yankees could very well be in the middle of the pack regarding payroll, while having a new young core of players, and contending for the playoffs every year...again. Scary, huh?

[henry14theking]

Lets say for argument's sake that Posada and Rivera come back and the payroll balloons to 160 million.

After next year (2008), they'll lose:

1. Abreu (16 million)
2. Mussina (11 million)
3. Pettitte (16 million)
4. Giambi (21 million)
5. Pavano (11 million)
6. Farnsworth (6 million)

Assume 10 million added for arbitration increases etc.

Thats 70 million coming off the books in a year when Teixeira and Santana are probable FA.

Their payroll should be down to ~90 million next year and they can tack on Tex and Santana and sit at around 130 million.

In 2009, Damon and Matsui are off the books and that's another 26 million.

So in two years, the Yanks could be rebuilt and under the luxury tax WITH Tex and Santana.

If Cashman's really in charge, the payroll should come down below the luxury tax line. Yanks have more than enough pitching in house and will probably only shell out for 1 ace starter.

The hitting is the problem. They really ought to trade some arms to the NL for bats (3B- Headley and an OF are what they need).

[daneptizl]

I'm glad some guys actually realize the efficient machine that Cashman is developing. I <3 him.

[bobo]

Lowell's a bad idea.

1) high BABIP - high BA is a fluke
2) high RSIP in 2007 - high RBI total is a fluke
3) As shown here (http://riveraveblues.com/2007/11/02/why-i-dont-sign-mike-lowell/), he can be expected to decline even more (aside from #1 and #2) once he gets away from Fenway

He's good, but he's the same hitter he's always been. Worth about $7 or $8M a season. Fielding Bible says his defense is overrated also.

[bobo]

I also think the days of spending money for the sake of spending money are over. If someone makes sense, they've got the resources.

I don't know about Cordero because he surely wants to close, and also will decline going to the AL. Not worth a 4 year deal at $10M+ per.

I say:

Rivera, Posada, and Pettitte for a total of $44M. Then we're at $163M.

Sign Ensberg who will surely be non-tendered for ~$2M. Platoon with Betemit at 3B.
Total $165M.

Resign Molina - $1.5M. Total $167M.

Sign a reliever. Nobody is really appealing though. Maybe Vizcaino, maybe Affeldt. Wood will be priced too high, but maybe. Say $3M-4M.

Total $171M.

That's about it. Lots of money to spend later on. There are always players with bad contracts to acquire without giving up good prospects (like Abreu).

Maybe the Yankees trade a mid-level prospect for Beltre and Sexson during the season if they're not getting enough offense?

Trading Damon or Giambi with cash in exchange for prospects is another way to spend that "extra" money and acquire even more talent.

[bjsguess]

I love how everyone keeps subtracting salaries and then doesn't add back in the salaries required to replace the players.

And while it's great that you are trimming your salary are Yankee fans really going to be thrilled with a 2009 rotation of:

Wang
Hughes
Chamberlin
Kennedy
????

That would be 3 guys with about a year experience each plus an unknown starter.

You have a huge hole at 3B if Lowell isn't signed (call me crazy for believing that Betemit IS NOT the answer). In 2009 you will also need to replace at least one outfielder and your 1B and possibly your DH. Lots of holes = lots of money to spend.

Keep dreaming about Santana as a FA. No way he ever hits the market. Someone will trade for him and lock him up. Bet the same thing happens to Peavy and Sabbathia as well.

Tex will be available though. Boras will take him to FA just like A-Rod. You can drop $25m on him to fill your 1B spot.

[kab21]

I find it interesting that the Yankees will be the only ones bidding on the high profile FA's next year. Not to mention that it's likely that they could be signed to an extension and not make it.

And it's also interesting how every prospect that the Yankees have will work out.

[yanksfan]

It's not that every prospect the Yankees have will work out.

It's that their system is so stacked with pitchers that you're almost guaranteed that a few will work out. Remember, the Yankees used something like 7 rookie starters this year, with several more who should reach the level of potential call ups next season.

[Aduncaroo]

Did someone say they could be in the middle of the pack as far as payroll? Are you serious? Isn't middle of the pack like 80 mil, maybe 85? The yanks will NEVER go below 100 mil....principle alone. They want to portray that they always put the best team possible out on the field...and they will always spend at least 120 to do it...at least.

[Yu Hsing Chen]

I agree that there's no way that the Yankees truely not spend, they'll change the way they do it, they'll try to find more effective /efficent ways to do it, but they'll do it.