Yankees Sign Mark Teixeira

Baseball is a great equalizer in things like this. Look at the Rays last year. You still have to go out and perform.

YanksFanSince78,

You gotta have DirecTV to get YES Network outside of the NY area.

whitesoxfan424 -

"I think seattle giving up ichiro for melky, swish and a SP would be a great haul, considering all are young, talented and under control for years"

You must be nuts. Ichiro is not going anywhere. He is basically the only draw for the Mariners and if they did trade Ichiro, there attendance would rival the Marlins and Rays. He puts butts in the seats, period!

yankees should bail us out of this economic crisis if the can throw money like this

All I can say its about time the Yankees signed someone.

Hey Ross, how do you subscribe to the Yes channel? I'm in Cleveland and have been trying to do the same but don't find it listed on any of my cable providers? If you can point me in the right direction I woul appreciate it dude.

i have been trying to find it in CA, and the only way is with direct TV

"Not unless the Reds are willing to give up Bruce or Volquez, which I doubt."

Uh, the starting price for Xavier Nady, Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher, or Damon would not be Bruce or Volquez.

I guess Boston doesn't want to win next year :(

I guess the Yankees want to win next year =)

Seriously can I laugh now at you people? I'm not being a jerk or anything but this is laughable. The Yanks have lost:

Starting 1B-Giambi
Starting RF-Abreu
SP/20 gm'er: Mussina
SP : Pettitte (I think they will go with a rookie).
Designated DL Pitcher: Pavano

And we're not suppose to replace them? It just so happens that they all came off the books at the same time, but we're only doing what any other team would do just on a larger financial scale.

YanksFanSince78,

You gotta have DirecTV to get YES Network outside of the NY area.
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Thanks. Is it an extra premium channel or part of the regular package?

cant lie, i did want tex, ive always admired him and how good he is. kinda makes sense he signed here cuz the sox offer wasnt as good but i guess we dont really need him that bad. I guess time will tell which team will be better built for the future. good financial work by the yanks tho, no denying it. just kinda boring knowing they will sign every big name guy but owell, sum stuff never changes

For all those who say that the Red sox are like the yankees and buy everyone just look at this. the sox havent signed a big free agent in one and a half offseasons.

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Obviously the Red Sox aren't putting their money back in to the organization like the Yankees. Unless you have a payroll of 200 million you aren't trying, right Yankee fans?

This is awesome! As a Cleveland fan who loves soaking in the misery of obnoxious NY fans, this could not have worked out better! With the highest expectations ever, we get to watch as they, the Yanks, fall on their faces. Then we get to watch them get their hopes up with Lebron as he toys with them over the next 2 years, only to see those dreams crushed too! As a consolation to you Yanks fans, this should ensure at least a wild card...Tex, CC and Arod are GREAT regular season players.

And to those bi*ching about the cap, buying a championship via free agency has generally been an unsuccessful strategy. Enjoy it, it will make it all the more fun when these Yankee "fans" are on this board calling Cashman an idiot 8 months from now.
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I will say this. THANK YOU Brian Cashman. He's done this year, the same thing he's done always. Put great players on the field. If the Yanks fail to make it to the playoffs (OMG) or to the WS then the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of the players and not the GM. Even with failing to win a championship since 200, I honestly do not blame him for any of that. Damon, Matsui, Mussina, GIambi, Pavano, Wright were all deals done with the intent of winning. Beltra and Guerrero were all overruled. Any Yank fan who bashes Cashman for this...I just don't know what to say. He's done a great "job" of acquiring good players this year, and the Tex deal was a major coup, as no one, including me, thought we were in the hunt for him. I really think Boston thought they were out of the hunt as well. I can't imagine them walking away from Tex over 12 mil (1.4 per year).

"""2009 will not be the first world series bought because the Yankees aren't gonna make the playoffs... like i said earlier.. its going to be hilarious when the Yankees dont make the playoffs again!!!! They are going to receive even more crap because of how much money they spent. Yanks have too many individuals on the team... this is why the YANKEES ARE NOT GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS IN 2009!!"""

Do you have a Link, by any chance?

""wow.... yanks version of the 09 tigers anyone""

Yea sure, the 08 tigers with a rotation of CC, CMW, AJ, Joba and Hughes. nice try though.

The Sox have more championships???? Now I have heard it all.

Reality Check:
The reason the Red Sox havent signed a big named free agent in 1 and a *half* offseasons is because last year there were no good players available for any team (i mean carlos silva was the best pitcher available, come on) and this year they completely choked and over played their hand with Teixeira.

In baseball, its about putting butts in the seats and getting the most bang for your buck. The Red Sox have more championships, broke the sell-outs record, have one of the best farm systems and win more games almost annually now, than the Yankees do for about 2/3 the cost. I don't even see how you can possibly compare it. The Yankees have deep pockets sure. They have a tradition that's unmatched. But RIGHT NOW, its not even close.
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More championships??? Did I fall asleep and wake up in opposite land? Is up now down and right now left???

For all those who say that the Red sox are like the yankees and buy everyone just look at this. the sox havent signed a big free agent in one and a half offseasons.

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Obviously the Red Sox aren't putting their money back in to the organization like the Yankees. Unless you have a payroll of 200 million you aren't trying, right Yankee fans?

Posted by: SierraM | December 23, 2008 at 05:22 PM

Dear Jesus, did we all forget the DiceK deal SOOO quickly? More than 1/4 what we're paying Tex over 8 years just to TALK to a man who hadn't ever pitched in the USA?

I agree though, it was a shrewd signing - offering essentially the posting fee back at him, knowing he would dishonor his team not to take it. But any honest Red Sox fan will HAVE to admit the Yanks outplayed them for Tex this year. The Yankees didn't blow ANYONE out of the water this year - they were within a million per of any other team's offer. They just did it silently and played off of everyone's "well, they just lost $88MM per off the books and opened a revenue generating stadium, but won't try to approach last year's payroll" attitude.

Towney007 And you guys only have 1 more than the Yankees for crying out loud...

Relevant times?
Give me a break. Life didnt start in 2001, baseball didnt start in 2001 and unless you are 8, you have all seen the Yanks win more than any other team.
Modern game started when the Sox won for the first time in 86 years...thanks for the laugh.

Excellent non-move by Theo Epstein and the Red Sox front office.

This guy isn't that good. Overrated and overpaid. Lowell is healthy and will have a monster season in 2009, as will Youkilis again.

Keep telling yourself that Ryan...

I pray for a strike and a salary cap. Fans of small market teams should stop supporting their team. No other major sport operates without a salary cap. This signing proves that a salary cap is needed.

I won't give a dime to MLB (either merchandise or game attendance) until they get a salary cap.

MaxAMillion

I said it once and I'll say it again, a salary cap will not work without a salary floor

What is with everyone saying "the yankeees this century bla bla"

FYI, the Red Sox won 5 of the first 15 World Series. It took the Yankees until 1923 to win their 1st World Series. Need I remind of you the history from 1923 to 2000 of the Yankees and Red Sox? That's 77 years there....Yet somehow, it seems when people say "the Yankees haven't wont his century", that's basically saying the century is coming to in end, well it is 8% over

I just find it funny, that is all....Oh btw, 22 Major League Teams have won the same amount of World Series' this century as the Yankees, so if you laugh at the Yankees, laugh at them then

Seriously, if all you're going to say is "you can't buy championships" which is obvious since we haven't won since 2000, "the Yank are runing baseball", reference the Zito, Tori Hunter, Vernon Wells, Soriano, etc deals, and "Yanks suck and will finish in last place", why because you say so, then pease don't bother making a post. At least state a logical reason as to why you don't think they can make the playoffs next year? I won't even say make the WS, because in the playoffs it all comes down to who' hot over a small 7 game stretch. Grow up people. You need the Yanks, you need people like them, so you can point your fingers and say "There goes the bad guy".

A fact that will be replayed throughout the season. NY will have 5 of highest contracts on their roster next year.

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No it will be 4, unless they got Manny

"Keep telling yourself that Ryan..."

I will. Because paying Lowell/Youkilis combined a fraction of what Teixeira makes is the wise decision.

Lowell was pretty damn good in his limited action last season and was MVP of the World Series in 2007. Youkilis finished third in regular season MVP balloting in 2008. The team finished one game from the World Series with a bunch of injuries and the Ramirez distraction in July.

They'll be fine.

Mike923,

Here's some more fact to refute your preposterous claim of the Yankee's having a top farm system. This is from Baseball America:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267148.html

"Despite their willingness to spend on draft and international talent, the Yankees have not developed any recent impact players beyond Chamberlain. (Cano would have counted before he regressed offensively and defensively in 2008.) They failed to sign two of their top three picks in the 2008 draft, including first-rounder Gerrit Cole—considered the most electric arm in the class of prep pitchers."

Okay sorry, but just because you trade away a player doesn't make a farm system necessarily drop

It has the same change effect on a farm system for when a guy joins a major league team

Towney..no, it became a joke when you were called out on it.
YOU go bake a cake...sweetheart.

Directly after Midtown stopped quoting:

"The Yankees did see significant progress from high-dollar investments such as Austin Jackson, who could claim their center-field job at some point in 2009, and catcher Jesus Montero, a $1.65 million bonus baby who had an all-star season in low Class A. Righthander Andrew Brackman, who got the largest draft bonus in club history ($3.35 million) as part of a big league contract that could reach $13 million with incentives, finally got on the mound in Hawaii Winter Baseball. He had Tommy John surgery shortly after signing in 2007 and an appendectomy this July."

And then there's BP ranking each teams system against the other, Yankees at 6:http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7204

"6. New York Yankees
Last Year's Ranking: 3
Why They're Down: The performances of Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, along with Austin Jackson's breakout, were offset by Philip Hughes' graduation to the majors and injuries to Humberto Sanchez and Dellin Betances.
Strengths: Pitching, pitching, and more pitching; high-ceiling outfielders; big investments in Latin America.
Weaknesses: Infielders and catchers.
Outlook for 2009 Ranking: Down a bit, as Joba and possibly some others will lose eligibility."

The Yankees don't have a top 10 farm system. The only significant position player they've produced in the last decade is Robinson Cano.

Posted by: midtown | December 23, 2008 at 05:43 PM

Where did Jeter, Rivera, and Posada come from? O yea thats right there home grown. If your going to bash the Yanks, atleast get your information right.

"btw, i don't get the sox only offering 168mil when boras wanted them to up it to 195. can someone clear that up for me."

Because he wasn't worth that kind of money.

Posted by: Towney007 | December 23, 2008 at 05:55 PM

Scroll up and you'll see where I explained the state income tax differential. The Red Sox could have paid Tex approximately $10 million less and still had their offer be comparable to a Yankees offer. What this really boils down to is that he wanted to be a Yankee.

Nothing boneheaded about imagining Manny in NY now. Angels say they are out and signed Rivera, no NL team would really go all out for him, Red Sox are obviously out. Who's left who is going to bid high? It might be the right time to run the table.

Towney:

I really thought Lowrie was going to be awesome. I don't watch the Red Sox as often as others, but I wouldn't say he can't be great yet...

Midtown, they were highly rated as recently as the beginning of the 2008 season. If it feels better to call that "ages" so be it.
Their farm is still rated higher than most people want to think, including you.

Posted by: yankeegirl49 | December 23, 2008 at 05:58 PM

This quote from the 2007 Baseball America assessment of the Yankees farm system:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/262804.html

"The Yankees farm system, which ranked among the worst in baseball in both 2004 and 2005, had reason to be proud during the 2006 stretch run."

The Yankees farm system is by no means anything to be proud of.

The Sox have more championships???? Now I have heard it all."

In this century, you know.. relevant times. Modern Game. Not part of a cranky movie.

I mean god, you guys only have one more championship than the Pirates for crying out loud...
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So by your reasoning then the Marlins are better and more succesful franchize than the Dodgers. Talk about being short sighted.

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That's being short-sighted? Whenever other franchises talk about their World Series wins, its being short-sighted but when the almighty yankees want to talk about how many they've won, its time for everybody else to listen. I for one am absolutely sick to my stomach at the yankees' and their fans' thinking that they are better than everybody else and should be given absolute respect because they won in the past and have the money that they do to buy individual performers who don't truly function as a team.

It's from this year Devlsh....Do you consider that to be very old?

We'll see how it ranks at the beginning of next year

Nontheless, I lol at Mets fans who think they're farm system is better

You give us 2004-05 and say ages?

2008, they were #5 in many rankings. Here is one

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/pneumonia-pony/137824

1B-TEIXEIRA-THRU 2016
2B-CANO-THRU 2011 (2012 & 2013 OPTIONS)
SS-JETER- THRU 2010
3B-ARPD-THRU 2017
C-POSADA- THRU 2011
RF-NADY-THRU 2009
LF-DAMON- THRU 2009
DH-MATSUI-THRU 2009
SP-SABATHIA-THRU 2015
SP-BURNETT-THRU 2013
CL-RIVERA- THRU 2010
OTHERS-SWISHER-THRU 2011

COMING OFF THE BOOKS:
2009-31 MIL++
2010-36 MIL
2011-30 MIL (IF CANO'S OPT IS DECLINED). MORE IF SABATHIA OPTS OUT AND ISN'T RESIGNED.

Posada and Rivera would be close to retiring at the time their contracts expire. Jeter will be 36 when his contract expires. He's the only player I'm concerned about bringing back. We all want him to retire as a Yankee but how much do you pay him and where would he play now? If he's too old to play SS then he most certainly is too old to play CF and if Cano is playing well then I wouldn't move him either.

I'm aware the Red Sox farm system is better

But A- It is not better by a whole lot, and B- Even if it is, that doesn't mean the Yankees farm system isn't good

Awesome! 3 great players and farm system wasnt touched.Sure they had the money to spend and they did and for all you jealous cry babaies out there they are still under what they spent last year and dont compare them to the the marlins either these guys are all multi year signees.See you in Oct.

midtown:

Wang. In the last three seasons he's the 3rd in the majors in terms of win total. And he didn't play more than half the 08 season.

Montero is still two years away. You fail.

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Which means he is still in the farm system, and is highly ranked by scouts. You fail.

"Which means he is still in the farm system, and is highly ranked by scouts. You fail."

You were talking about the 2009 season. Yankees won't touch Montero until 2010 or 2011.

in a counter move, the red sox have revealed that they are targeting joe mauer in 2011.

YanksFan:

Jeter will play LF.

Everyone else:

The Yanks didn't give up a single prospect. Their farm system is #6 in all of the majors. Their payroll is LESS than last years. Their payroll next year will be LESS than this years.

Get used to it.

ANOTHER THING I HOPE CASHMAN SIGNS MANNY TOO... JUST TO MAKE SURE WE WIN!!! 09 YANKS 160-2 LOL BOSOX *****!