Odds & Ends: Chapman, Felix, Jays, Valentine

200 mil??!?!?! That is insane just to think about. As good as he is at that price I don't think I would want him if I were a Yankee fan.

It would be nice to see Bobby V back in MLB this season. He deserves a managerial job, probably one better than the Nats, but at least it's something.

I think the Hernandez price tag floated there is pretty baseless. Once you creep much over $150 million for a pitcher (or any player, really), the likelihood of getting burned is higher than not.

Mike- As a Yankees fan, does price even matter anymore? I mean it was made quite clear last offseason that it is about adding the guys, and the price tag is irrelevant.

Outside of that, I'd recommend Joel take a look at Freddy Garcia, Darren Dreifort, Jason Schmidt, and any other pitcher who was in a similar position and signed the long term deal prior to getting seriously hurt.
If the Ms are offering somewhere around 150M right now, he better take it. The down side risk of hoping to stay healthy for 2 years is far greater than the upside (200M). If he goes Tommy John next year, or (closer to home) Eric Bedard, in two years he'll be on this site as a 26 year old "buy-low candidate", talking 2 year, 10M dollar deals.

Big BIG risk.

I just threw these names out there, if they're bad examples of guys who took an extension or signed a long term deal just prior to injury, please advise.

Uh, maybe he'd just like to play for a team that doesn't have to buy the WS championship to win.

Posted by: drphonic7 | November 10, 2009 at 09:09 AM

Is there a team that doesn't have a payroll? (or never signs FAs?)

Why would he want to go to the Marlins?

Why wouldn't the Yankees sign him too? I mean they will be all over Joe Mauer so why not King Felix. To go with more than likely John Lackey and possibly Matt Holliday this year it just makes me sick. Why don't we just contrat all the teams except the Yanks and Red Sox and merge all the other teams together. Seems to be the only way...Kinda like the NHL All Star game- Yanks vs the rest of MLB.

I'm not a Yankee fan, but im getting tired of hearing people say..buying a championship.

Is there any way that we can see profits for a team instead of what they spend on payroll. Because i'm sure there are plenty of teams that can spend the money..but they just dont.

Like the Brewers for example there payroll last year was a lil over 80 million, but they are valued over 347 million. You telling me they cant add another 15-20 million? The Tigers spent over 115 million and they are only valued at 371 million. There are at least 5 clubs who are valued more than them but spent at least 20 million less.

Like someone else said....TELL YOUR OWNER to spend the money. instead of buying his brand new Yacht. Push comes to shove they do what the Marlins do...trade their star players for great prospects.

dude do some research.. the Pirates alone received 50 million in revenue sharing???

"26 (now 27) rings"
Actually 26. The souvenier for 1923 was a watch.
http://stadiumpage.com/WSRings/misc.html
(Scroll down a bit)

The Yankees have been trying to buy a championship ever since the late 90s dynasty stopped producing.
The question is not whether they're doing it or not, it's like, why is it wrong for a company to leverage it's assets for success and profitability?

Billy Beane is trying to buy a championship too, by the way.

Yankee fans/defenders.

Make a choice. It's either...

1. The Yankees do not buy championships.
or
2. The Yankees do buy championships but its completely within the rules, and smaller market teams should buy championships too.

---

p.s. the 96,98, and 00 Yankees all had the highest Payrolls in MLB. In 99 they had the second highest. Stop talking about this like it's a new thing. They've always offered the most money for players to play for them. Why do you think the league instituted the Draft?

ThinkBlue, all I can say is that I miss Ted Turner :(

Love,
-a lifelong Braves fan

Your argument that the the other teams should increase their payroll because they have the assets and the money from revenue sharing is laughable. So let's look at the Brewers, they have a 80 million dollar payroll now and if they would of signed CC to that ridiculous contract, they are handcuffed. Sure their new payroll is over 100 million but now they can't add any other parts to their team. They cant supplement CC with an AJ Burnett and Mark Teixiera. What if CC goes down next year with a Tommy John? The Brewers don't have the kind of money or assets to absorb that kind of hit and not get that ROI.

Let's say the Royals signed Holliday this year to a 125 million dollar contract. What does that do? They still have needs at bullpen, catcher, shortstop, centerfield, but now have to other payroll flexability.

That is why the Yankees can buy championships and can go grab every free agent and where the smaller market teams cannot compete.

"200 mil??!?!?! That is insane just to think about. As good as he is at that price I don't think I would want him if I were a Yankee fan."

For one of the best pitchers in the game who will only be 25 when he hits FA, $200 million isn't unreasonable at all. I mean, they could sign him for 10 years and he'd only be 35 when the contract was up. Of course, serious trouble if there's any kind of injury, but it's a risk that several teams might well be willing to take with that quality of pitcher that young.

Since the Yankees are "buying championships" and are having trouble filling the seats, what is the over-under on YES becoming pay per view for Yankee games?

Pathetic to even think a back-end of the rotation guy like Jason Marquis is out of the DODGERS' price range. Out of the Royals' price range? Sure, but yeesh, this is LA.

"One GM asked Joel Sherman of the New York Post why Felix Hernandez would consider signing long-term with the Mariners when the Yankees could conceivably offer $200MM in two winters when he's a free agent."

It's because some players still want to keep their SOUL! Eff the Yankees! Keep yer mitts off our ace!

Well good news is Twins are trying to work out a long term deal with Mauer so sorry yankees, and I honestly think Felix will be one of the best pitchers our generation will ever see, hes still 23 and just won 19 games on a team that was less than steller

As for Felix - $200m is a lot of money. 10 years is a really long time. Go check your history books regarding long-term contracts with pitchers. I think you will find that NOT ONE OF THEM have worked out. The probability of a pitcher suffering a catastrophic injury is extremely high (compared to a positional player).

If I were Felix and had a 8/150 deal on the table now I would take it. Maybe build in an out clause at year 5. Sure he could potentially be leaving money on the table but Felix is far from a sure thing.

NEWS FLASH: The Yanks have won 1 WS ring in the last 9 years and the world has not come to an end.

If the Yanks had lost to the Phillies then there wouldn't be the outcry. We win and the world is topsy turvy and people want Bud Selig's head on a spike.

bbxxj i am not arguing the fact the yankees have more money to spend than other teams.. thats just a plain fact. they have the flexibility to do so do to the profits the yankees make. What i am stating is its hard to argue that they have bought their championship when the point of the game (under the current rules) is to build a winning team. A lot of other teams can do what the yankees do but choose not to.

If the twins, rays, marlins can compete why cant the pirates and royals do it? its spending the money wisely is what does it in my opinion. The yankees have an advantage yes, and when they see someone who can help the team they go all out for that player. Teams like the royals or pirates yes may make a play at a big free agent at times but mostly its the wrong player for the team and they can not afford to make mistakes... thy seem to draft poorly and make horrible business choices..

lets look at some of the larger market teams. the (mets)second (cubs)third (tigers)fifth (astros)eighth and (mariners)tenth highest payrolls failed to make the playoffs.. because of poor spending not because they dont have the money to compete.

The yankees are going to be locked into some backended heavy contracts in a couple years but almost certainly will add new free agents that will start this whole conversation over again. Its the way they run the business and over the last couple years have done a good job at it. Retain your own star players, add position guys, and add big stars when available.

I have to agree with what someone said earlier a salary cap would not change anything but run some of the smaller teams into the ground because there would have to be a salary floor as well. And also whoever thinks the Yankees winning a Championship is bad for baseball is either an upset fan or just plain stupid. Its good for ratings, attendance, interest, and profits due to well the Yankees either being your favorite team or you just plain hating them!

What's funny is that Carl Pohland was worth about $3 billion. Georgie's worth about $1.3 billion. With the Twins headed into a new stadium it will be interesting to see if the Twins FO is allowed to sign a couple of meaningfull FA this winter

I agree YFS78 i just dont see it happening unless something big happens as well. Hopefully next year is a good year for the minor league arms. Im excited for Banuelos most of all kid has something there. Hopefully Betances/Brackman step up this coming year. Yankees farm system hasnt been this pitcher exciting since i can remember lol

Can't sign Marquis? Not exactly a bad thing..

I can't imagine the salary cap being less than $150. That really only effects the Yanks. The problem I foresee is that any salary cap will come w/ a salary floor. The NBA and NFL models have a floor which is about 80-85% percent of the cap. Let's forget that and say it's 65% or about $100 mil. With teams like the Rays and Marlins simply unable to draw over 2 million even when they field competitve teams, how in the world will they be able to handle a $100 mil payroll. And should the other mlb teams (primarily the major markets) be forced to support a team who simply may not be a viable franchize? Do you restrict the amount of teams and do away with those not even close to turning profits despite having low payrolls AND getting millions from revenue sharing OR do you move those teams into other markets that might be able to support a team?

Many baseball owners have greater personal wealth than the Steinbrenner family. Its not just about the owner, it's also about the size of the market and, the income that is generated from non-ticket sources.

The Yankees enjoy a huge advantage in income from local radio and TV rights. And because they are in New York, they are able to easily charge significantly more for boxes because of the number of corporate sponsors they can choose from.

Just because they are the Yankees - arguably the most famous professional sports team in the world - they enjoy a certain status and merchandising power that other teams cannot match.

A rich owner who is willing to spend a lot of his own money helps but without the organizational income, even a very rich owner can only do so much.

Since the players union is unlikely to accept any salary cap, I think that full sharing of all radio and TV and merchandising income would help even the playing field.

Agreed, Yanksfan.
I was hoping someone I respect on here would pick that one up.
As for the and/or, I say moving a team would be better than dissolving it. Either way, fan's are going to be pissed, but at least you don't have to worry about not gaining more fan's while losing some. But, you have to worry about the ensuing cost's of building a new fanbase and stadium. Not to mention all the other cost's incurred while pulling off such a move.
No doubt it will be an epic undertaking, but I feel it must happen.

How long would 200mm lock Felix Hernandez up for?

I would love to see him as a Yank - then he would have national coverage and people would realize how good he is. Just like big Tex.

I bet the Yanks get Doc Halladay for two years and then pick up Felix when the Mariners management no longer want his big contract.

How long would 200mm lock Felix Hernandez up for?

I would love to see him as a Yank - then he would have national coverage and people would realize how good he is. Just like big Tex.

I bet the Yanks get Doc Halladay for two years and then pick up Felix when the Mariners management no longer want his big contract.

Posted by: mjr234nyu | November 11, 2009 at 03:30 PM
___

Oh yes, and they'll get Mauer. And they'll get Holliday. And they'll get Pujols. And they'll get every single good player in the majors. Yankees fans never cease to amaze me.