Yankees Sign Mark Teixeira

To add to my previous comment, how about they sign Milton Bradley and Adam Dunn for their bench? When does it end? If the Nationals or Rays all of a sudden turned over a new leaf and started spending like this, there'd be all sorts of negative comments and stories on ESPN by the East Coast biased reporters there. MLB is officially a joke.

Swisher is outfield protection.

I hope the Mets don't get Manny. Am I the only person who knew that his stint with the Dodgers was all for show? He'd never put that much effort if he knew he was guaranteed money no matter what.

It is stupid that as a fan of the Pirates I have to hope we can come up with enough money to sign Rocco Baldelli and the Yankees drop 1 Billion+ on a stadium, 500+ Million on free agents. This is stupid I think the luxury tax for a payroll over 150MM should be 1$ for every 1$ spent.

It's times like these that I'm just thankful that my team isn't in the AL East.

Major League Baseball needs to do something about this. They won't, but they should. Baseball cannot continue like this and remain popular.

Posada can play 2 more years at catcher and then he can retire. And Jeter can move to DH.

Great move by the yankees. And we will have a lower payroll then last year.

"nrmax88 are u really trying to argue giambi is a better signing then tex"

Giambi was more productive offensively than Teixeira. 1B is the least strenuous defensive position, although 1B defense is huge. Since the Yankees are an AL team, and thus could stash Giambi at DH if his defense declined and/or he became an injury issue, and still utilize most of his value.

A LOT of Teixeira's value lays in his defense. If that's gone, that contract becomes an albatross. Defense declines more with age than offense. All of Giambi's value is his offense. From a value-conservation standpoint, Teixeira is worse than Giambi.

I'm not one to say this Teixeira contract will be bad, but the Yankees did NOT have nearly as many guys who are in danger of needing the 1B/DH spot before the ends of their contracts on the roster.

"nrmax88 are u really trying to argue giambi is a better signing then tex"

No, I am saying they are both horrible signings. Giambi of 2000 was worlds better then Tex has ever dreamed of being. That didn't end well at all. Same thing with Todd Helton, before he signed his mega deal.

Disappointing. Gah.

"2009. First world series to be bought."

Actually, the Marlins bought the series in '97. That's one that is for sure.

As an Orioles fan, I am disappointed that we weren't able to get Teixeia. What I'm more disappointed in is the fact that at age 41 I have given up hope that the Orioles will ever be competitive in my lifetime. The players union is too strong to ever allow any type of salary cap, and the Yankees have so much more revenue than the rest of the teams that they can pay the luxury tax out of their petty cash account. I love my O's, and I think that they are headed in the right direction. I just have no realistic hope that they can ever be better than 3rd place, so long as the current economic structure and division alignment exist. I'm not angry at anyone, especially Tex. He gets the money and the chance to win. It just makes me genuinely sad, and now I understand what fans in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and Miami feel like all the time.

There should be a Cap, 160 million per team with max contracts at 25 million..
If you can't build a team with 160 million dollars you shouldn't be a GM

Gross. Where is Nick Swisher gonna go?

Classic Yankee move. They will have signed the three biggest contracts of the off-season. And Yankee fans wonder why everyone hates them ...

I'm still in the camp that the upgrades, while costly, haven't actually improved the team much over what they saw in 2008. How do you improve on Mussina (200 IP, 3.37 ERA, 1.22 WHIP)? Sabathia's AL numbers over the past 1.5 years average out to be very similar (240 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.20 WHIP). Meanwhile, Burnett is good for 150-175 IP with a high 3's ERA. Pettitte pitched 200+ innings with an ERA in the mid 4's (both sported similar WHIPS 1.34 vs 1.42).

Finally, when you get to Giambi and Tex it gets really interesting. Giambi is a defensive liability. No question. However, their offense wasn't that different. Giambi jacked 32 HR's, posted a 128 OPS and received free passes 103 times in just 565 PA. Teixeira had a monster 151 OPS (career high), knocked out 33 HR's and received 116 free passes in 685 PA.

It's a safe bet that Tex in 09 out-performs Giambi in 08, but the gap isn't that huge - maybe 3-5 wins.

Between everything the Yanks stand to gain 7-10 wins over the 08 results. Anything beyond that includes pinning hope that Wang returns to his former self (pretty safe bet), Posada can catch again (not such a safe bet), Joba can stay healthy enough to go 175 IP, and that Hughes continues to develop. Cano should improve but Jeter and Damon regress.

When all is said and done the Yankees have accomplished what they needed to. It was imperative that they sign Tex and CC in order to stay competitive. They could easily end up being the best team in baseball if everything breaks their way. Or they could be a huge disappointment (like this past year). Either way, it's pretty easy to see why everyone will be rooting against them.

"2009. First world series to be bought."

Actually, the Marlins bought the series in '97. That's one that is for sure.

But I get your point.

*Typekey...again*

This is pitiful. Yankees just got rid of some contracts, so that's their excuse to go out and buy the top of the free agent market. 2 best pitchers and best hitter, and the teams who couldn't afford those guys aren't even being compensated fairly in draft picks. A second rounder and a sandwich pick for CC, yippee!!!

Funny thing is, they're probably not done. They overpaid everyone last year to hang around, I hope it backfires on them.

Yankeegirl49:
All I'm saying is that this signing does not automatically hand them the World Series
They have to play well to win it

Favorites? Yes, definatly
Winners? On paper, but as a Tiger fan
Paper isn't always right :(

Wow, how about the Yankees build a team for once instead of buying everyone else's best players. This is why baseball is the worst sport in America.

BOO YAAA!!!! TO ALL YOU THAT SAID THEY WERENT EVEN CLOSE TO SIGNING HIM!!!! IN UR FACE hahaha

"And alas
The life of the small market team ends with a swish of a pen
RIP small market teams"

Snore.

Reigning AL Champs Tampa Bay.

When you think about this, the core players of the Yankees are split between big money and cheap.

Nady, Cano, Swisher are not making big money. And by Yankee standards Damon and Matsui are on the cheap.

Wang, Joba, Hughes are cheap.

Marte, Coke, Bruney are cheap.

This has been a tremendous offseason for the Yankees. They are now the favorites to win the world series this year no doubt. I wonder how any team can possibly retaliate with the Yankees just dominating. And keep in mind there not even done yet. They still have trade chips in Matsui and Swisher to pursue Manny Ramirez. If they get Manny,Tex,CC, and AJ in one offseason, you have to tip your hat to the Yankees FO.

While I'm happy for the Dodgers, isn't there something wrong with baseball when the Yankees can sign Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira to a team that already boasts the highest paid player. MLB has turned into an absolute joke. Until the league gets some leverage over the union and implements a spending cap and kicks off about 10 teams or encourage them to spend more, this will always be a league of the haves and have nots.

"I'm going to throw up now. kthnxbye"

why? he went to the angels last year and what happened? they lost in the playoffs...

the yankees are just coming off a series of similar contracts from their last round of trying to buy a championship and did they win when they did that? nope...

the two teams in the world series this year, what were their payrolls? ray - less payroll than the yankees luxury tax bill and phils ~ $100 million

I'm fine with all of their spending, especially with the huge luxury tax hit they are going to take, in fact, I hope they also go out and sign manny

IT WILL BE HILARIOUS WHEN THEY FINISH THIRD YET AGAIN!

With the Teixeira signing, the Yankees offseason reaches over $400 million according to Rosenthal. That's a little pathetic if you ask nearly everyone. The three of the four highest teams in payroll will still be choke artist.

"As an Orioles fan, I am disappointed that we weren't able to get Teixeia. What I'm more disappointed in is the fact that at age 41 I have given up hope that the Orioles will ever be competitive in my lifetime. The players union is too strong to ever allow any type of salary cap, and the Yankees have so much more revenue than the rest of the teams that they can pay the luxury tax out of their petty cash account. I love my O's, and I think that they are headed in the right direction. I just have no realistic hope that they can ever be better than 3rd place, so long as the current economic structure and division alignment exist. I'm not angry at anyone, especially Tex. He gets the money and the chance to win. It just makes me genuinely sad, and now I understand what fans in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and Miami feel like all the time. "

Keep the faith! O's have some up and coming talent!

WOW, nice job cash, a great winter for us yankee fans.

yea yea yea, we know, we bought our team, we overpaid, bad deal, (unless the red sux got him) yadda yadda yadda, come on just get them all out of the way now.

Fact is their payroll as of now is still less than last years. hes the best free agent on the market, but now he sucks and is over rated because he signs with the yankees.

Good signing for the Yanks, but will this team have more pressure to win a world series than any other team in the history of sports???

holy cow !!
What a lineup, what a rotation. They are serious about winning it all.
What if they sign Manny still ?
I dont blame the Yanks. This is a business, and just like any team that could afford to do so, they want a winning team, so they are doing what they can.

Wow! I really have to say WOW! Not by the signing but by the tremendous amount of ignorant rants. I will not comment on this blog following this.

Fine hate the Yankee's if you want. Fine. The Yankee's did absolutely nothing wrong with the signing. Can some of you get that through your pea sized minds? Huh?

HE WANTED TO PLAY FOR THE YANKEE'S OK! GOT IT, GOOD!

THE YANKEE'S HAD NO INVOLVEMENT UNTIL TODAY. THEY GAVE EVERY OTHER TEAM MORE THAN ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO SIGN HIM.

Oh, and our payroll is still at or equal to several other teams following this.

Congrats Yankees, glad still Tex ain't in Boston, was way too much for them to throw at one player as have written here over a dozen times in the last week.

Now "tek will not be able to find a job as a 3rd rate plumber anywhere either is an afterthought of this also. Makes my day, since Boras shoved this deal so hard with Theo &co forcing his hand after calling his bluff earlier this week in texas. I like the way it ended up in the long run, Yankees have not 1 a single game, yet are already chalking up a WS? Better prove it on the field 1st boys.

A lot of hate for the Yankees and their money on here. No doubt all the haters would be just fine with this if it were their team doing the spending. Grow up.

its not the yankees fault they can spend all this money everyone needs to stop bitching...win some world series and get some real fans that dont mind spending some money to watch their team play then maybe you can spend money to jealous assholes.

Can someone tell me what their payroll is sitting at right now?

actualy real yankee fans want you to hate them ....i love the haters just proves our superiority.......but anyway
the yanks should try and move swisher for a decent bullpen arm or some prospects.....they realy dont need him

This has been a tremendous offseason for the Yankees. They are now the favorites to win the world series this year no doubt. I wonder how any team can possibly retaliate with the Yankees just dominating. And keep in mind there not even done yet. They still have trade chips in Matsui and Swisher to pursue Manny Ramirez. If they get Manny,Tex,CC, and AJ in one offseason, you have to tip your hat to the Yankees FO.

Posted by: Rolling{Night}Hawk{09} | December 23, 2008 at 02:50 PM

Is it me or did they start awarding Championships in December?

Don't count your chickens yet.

I am a lifelong Yankees fa and I hate this deal. Now that he is on board, I definately hope he does well and we win a ring but as of today, I don't like it at all. I think he's good, not great. I was really hoping the reports this morning of Washington and Boston were true. I would have much preferred to have Manny. This signing creates the same problem signing Manny would have created, an even bigger log jam in the outfield. But now we have this guy for 8 years. I'm a skeptic, but again, now that he's on board, I will be his biggest fan.

"What if they sign Manny still ?"

You are crazy if you think this is a possibility anymore.

The Yanks just had:
Moose - 12 million
Pavano - 10 million
Abreu - 16 million
Giambi - 20 million
Pet (might b back) - 16 million

Gone... to act surprised that they lost 5 big contracts and signed 3 is ridiculous.

Too bad the Yankees can't pay to getthe BETTER part of a players career.

HORSESHIT. I hate that god damn organization.

"Too bad the Yankees can't pay to getthe BETTER part of a players career."

Teixeira is 28. CC is 28. They just did.

1997 Marlins payroll: $48MM (7th in majors)

1997 Yankees payroll: $59MM (1st in majors)

Look, the Yankees have almost $90 million coming off the books, they have another potential $45 million off next year (Damon, Matsui, Nady and if Pettitte is signed to a 1/10 deal) and CC could opt-out after 3 years. This isn;t as much of a payroll deal as the non-Yankee fans are making it out to be.

They offered CC what they had to. They were $500k more per year than the Braves on AJ and $1 million+ over on Tex. Stop your whining about big markets versus small markets. That argument has been around MLB for 100 years. These could be good or bad signings, but every team has a rich owner who could have made these deals. The Yankees pulled the trigger and you lambaste them for it. If they didn't you would lambaste them for that, too.

At the end of the day, the picked up the 2 best FA pitchers and the best FA bat to fill their most glaring needs. Hate them all you want, but that is all you could ask out of the team you root for.

As a Red Sox fan I didn't even want Teixera. Why would I want my team to buy a WS. Baseball is a f--cking joke. He should have went to Baltimore or Washington and been the hometown guy and even out the league a bit. But once again, the Yankees go out and spend 418 million in a offseason. I guess the way to buid a franchise is purchasing other teams best players.

I guess the Sox will sign Tek and trade for Salty now to get a power hitting catcher of the future. They need some pop at the bottom of the order now.

Well, for once everything went well this off season. :D

Yes it is fun being a Yankees fan but I still don't like this deal. Who said you have to build a team from scratch to love it. Just because thats the way your team does it doesn't mean thats how it has to or needs to be done. Worry about your team and stop worrying about what the Yankees do and how much they spend. Save yourself the tears.

Cashman said if the season started today, Swisher would be the 1B. He did not say Swisher is our new 1B.

Hey Red Sox fans,

SORRY ABOUT YOUR DAMN LUCK!