jon abbey said:
Well, the best-case scenario for the Yankees all year has been for their most expensive player to get suspended for a year for his steroid use, so, it's not really that much of a stretch.
Staying Under $189M: The Impossible Dream
- Thread starter jon abbey
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Well, the best-case scenario for the Yankees all year has been for their most expensive player to get suspended for a year for his steroid use, so, it's not really that much of a stretch.
Yeah, I just don't think Ellsbury is that fragile. Some of his injuries have been pretty fluky. Cano has been very healthy do far, but I wouldn't want to bank on it as he hits his late 30's.nattysez said:
There is no question the Yankees seem to have done a 180 degree turn. I think their entire 189 plan, which was probably hatched in 2010/2011 for 2014, hinged on being competitive through 2013, and expectations that the killer B's would be producing and that Pineda would supplement a still effective CC.
The injuries at the MLB level that killed the 2013 team and the injuries in recent years with prospects forced them to sign some free agents they probably would not have signed if they made the playoffs last year and had guys like Pineda and Banuelo in the rotation. Fans will accept a bad season once in awhile, but when you disappoint them 2 years in a row you start losing significant revenue. That's why teams like the Red Sox and Yankees spend after disappointing seasons (Red Sox 2006 and 2010, Yankees 2008 and 2013)
A foul ball. Even Pedey got knocked out with a FB. Still managed 600 PA. Injuries are going to happen, nobody expects Ellsbury to stay off the DL for 7 years, but with any luck he won't have any more season killing impact/collision injuries in April.
The injuries at the MLB level that killed the 2013 team and the injuries in recent years with prospects forced them to sign some free agents they probably would not have signed if they made the playoffs last year and had guys like Pineda and Banuelo in the rotation. Fans will accept a bad season once in awhile, but when you disappoint them 2 years in a row you start losing significant revenue. That's why teams like the Red Sox and Yankees spend after disappointing seasons (Red Sox 2006 and 2010, Yankees 2008 and 2013)
rembrat said:
A foul ball. Even Pedey got knocked out with a FB. Still managed 600 PA. Injuries are going to happen, nobody expects Ellsbury to stay off the DL for 7 years, but with any luck he won't have any more season killing impact/collision injuries in April.
Cano has remained healthy by avoiding contact with the ground or other players at all costs. No thumb and wrist injuries diving for grounders for Robbie. It will be interesting to see if instant replay forces him to hang in on the pivot on DPs in 2013. Cano likes a big neighborhood around second base.EvilEmpire said:
Sampo Gida said:
Thumb, wrist, groin, foot, wrist again and heel if you go all the way back to March. Those were Ellsbury's afflictions this year and again, no one fell on him. Pedroia goes through his fair share of baseball injuries but he plays through them, he put up a career best 724 PA this year. I imagine Cano is also one of these gamers because I can't remember the last time he had any significant injury.
No reason to argue over fragility of JE for the millionth time, but the key point the Sampo Gida makes that isn't stressed enough is the timing of his injuries. Even if you believe he is "fragile" or a slow healer you can't deny that he was unlucky to sustain both his major injuries in the first two weeks of the season. If he runs into Beltre in September he'd have missed the playoffs, but he would have played 140 or so games that year and his injury history would be looked at a lot differently.nattysez said:
Let's be honest, even if the last three years of Cano's deal are a bust that doesn't make the decision not to sign him a good one because if there's one team that can easily absorb a sunk cost it's NY. I understand the fiscal restraint for purposes of resetting the luxury tax/revenue sharing in 2014, but this new found fiscal restraint for future years that only seems to apply to Cano seems nonsensical. The AAVs for Cano and Ellsbury are not that far apart so they could've worked around the $189m issue for 2014 if they signed Cano instead of Ellsbury.
Not to mention, Ellsbury's value is as a CF, and he could really only be used as a LF down the road. Cano's value comes from his bat, and he could potentially move to 3B, 1B or DH when he's older. Then when you add in the Beltran signing it makes even less sense, because leaving Gardner in CF, putting Beltran in LF, and keeping Cano at 2B is a much better team than what they currently have.
The bottom line is that Cano's deal may be stupid for Seattle, or pretty much every other team. But even though we may have mocked them for giving him that deal, it would've been a much smarter move for NY. I'm honestly baffled by their offseason strategy so far.
Not to mention, Ellsbury's value is as a CF, and he could really only be used as a LF down the road. Cano's value comes from his bat, and he could potentially move to 3B, 1B or DH when he's older. Then when you add in the Beltran signing it makes even less sense, because leaving Gardner in CF, putting Beltran in LF, and keeping Cano at 2B is a much better team than what they currently have.
The bottom line is that Cano's deal may be stupid for Seattle, or pretty much every other team. But even though we may have mocked them for giving him that deal, it would've been a much smarter move for NY. I'm honestly baffled by their offseason strategy so far.
Assuming that Sherman's facts are correct, that's still only a 18 man roster. The additional 7 players will cost something.
So if you subtract the A-Rod money from that total, it leaves them at about $175 million, with 7 roster spots left to fill.
$14 million to find another starter, 3rd basemen, one or two relievers, and a 2nd basemen.
$14 million to find another starter, 3rd basemen, one or two relievers, and a 2nd basemen.
Looking ahead to 2016, NY has 6 players taking up approximately 122 million. Here they are, get ready to laugh:
A-Rod (21m, 40 y/o)
Beltran (15m, 39 y/o)
Teixeira (23m, 36 y/o)
Sabathia (25m, 35y/o)
Ellsbury (22m, 32 y/o)
McCann (17m, 32 y/o)
They will either have one of the worst NY teams in decades or they will have a payroll of 250-300 million
A-Rod (21m, 40 y/o)
Beltran (15m, 39 y/o)
Teixeira (23m, 36 y/o)
Sabathia (25m, 35y/o)
Ellsbury (22m, 32 y/o)
McCann (17m, 32 y/o)
They will either have one of the worst NY teams in decades or they will have a payroll of 250-300 million
jon abbey said:
Hey anytime you have a depleted system and your first pick is in the second round (until they sign Jiminez) you know you are having a great day.
nattysez said:
Its still possible Pineda (not a prospect but was in AAA last year) and Banuelos become top SP'ers, and while the Red Sox system is strong, they don't have many top OF prospects and will soon be losing Victorino and Gomes. They also don't have anyone to replace Ortiz, not that he is replaceable, No 1Bmen on the horizon either.
Pitching looks good, but as Bill James says, it's hard to project pitching prospects. As the Yankees found with the Killer B's. one moment you are looking at sunshine and then it rains cats and dogs.
The Yankees are perhaps the only team in MLB with the financial resources to dispense with the farm and field an all free agent team that can compete. That they arbitrarily chose to mimic teams whose financial resources are grounded on Earth and worship the holiness of 189 is a blessing for the rest of the Al East.
The fact they passed on Colon who signed for 2/20 despite a very shaky rotation suggest their spending is over and they are still sniffing 189. Right now I have them as a 85 W team, they needs to spend another 25 million to get to 90+ W's, and I think the odds are better of winning Powerball than seeing that happen.
MFY supposedly close to signing Brian Roberts. Keep in mind that they've only got between $2-9mm left to spend, depending on how worried they are about Jeter hitting any incentives. And they could still move Ichiro or Gardner to save a little money.
MFY sign Matt Thornton to 2/$7mm.
https://twitter.com/JackCurryYES/status/412997516062654464
If Brian Roberts and Jeter hit no incentives, they've still only got a few million left to stay under $189mm.
I have to assume at this point that they are going to blow through the cap. Going over by only a few million makes no sense.
https://twitter.com/JackCurryYES/status/412997516062654464
If Brian Roberts and Jeter hit no incentives, they've still only got a few million left to stay under $189mm.
I have to assume at this point that they are going to blow through the cap. Going over by only a few million makes no sense.
I can't keep up with the math. Are they under by a few million including all of ARod's salary? None of it? Half of it?
I can't keep up with the math. Are they under by a few million including all of ARod's salary? None of it? Half of it?
I think they are trying to do the following.
1- Stay under $189 with the assumption that Arod is on the books. (Which is why they're making all these $2m signings)
2 - Only risk going over $189 for Tanaka with the assumption that no other free agents out there are worth it.
I think they are trying to do the following.
1- Stay under $189 with the assumption that Arod is on the books. (Which is why they're making all these $2m signings)
2 - Only risk going over $189 for Tanaka with the assumption that no other free agents out there are worth it.
crow216 said:
I can't see any scenario where they sign Tanaka now - if they were going to go all in - which means a 17-20m / year at a minimum - then they will be over the 189 limit regardless of Arod's status. And if they planned on this then they would have resigned Cano AND Ellsbury, Beltran and McCann .. not to mention Garza
The available evidence (all these cheap signings) seems to suggest they are seriously trying for 189. I mean, whats the point of going cheap only to end up at 195 or something like that?
WTF, it's like the Yankees and Knicks are competing daily to see who can do a worse job running their organization, and each day they push it to new lows.
Or maybe they really do have that 2008 time machine, that would be pretty cool...
Or maybe they really do have that 2008 time machine, that would be pretty cool...
I can't see any scenario where they sign Tanaka now - if they were going to go all in - which means a 17-20m / year at a minimum - then they will be over the 189 limit regardless of Arod's status. And if they planned on this then they would have resigned Cano AND Ellsbury, Beltran and McCann .. not to mention Garza
The available evidence (all these cheap signings) seems to suggest they are seriously trying for 189. I mean, whats the point of going cheap only to end up at 195 or something like that?
For who should they go over $189? I think they're saying that they would have risked it for Cano if he accepted $175 and they're willing to risk it for another impact player. The names left on the board don't help this team out so much that it's worth going over. Except Tanaka, MAYBE.
That's my read of the situation anyway. "We'll go over it, but not for the hell of it."
The available evidence (all these cheap signings) seems to suggest they are seriously trying for 189. I mean, whats the point of going cheap only to end up at 195 or something like that?
For who should they go over $189? I think they're saying that they would have risked it for Cano if he accepted $175 and they're willing to risk it for another impact player. The names left on the board don't help this team out so much that it's worth going over. Except Tanaka, MAYBE.
That's my read of the situation anyway. "We'll go over it, but not for the hell of it."
I would definitely go over $189 for Tanaka. And if ARod gets a long suspension, they can do both, yes?
Exactly. And if they get Tanaka, they can exceed the limit to the degree of Arods contract and still possibly stay under.
My updated Yankees payroll (updated for Roberts/Thornton):
Rotation (41.90 AAV + FA) - Sabathia (24.40 AAV), Kuroda (16.00 AAV), FA, Nova (arb1, assume 1.00 AAV), Pineda (min, 0.50 AAV)
Bullpen (11.00 AAV) - Robertson (arb3, assume 4.00 AAV), Phelps (min, 0.50 AAV), Thornton (3.50 AAV), Kelley (arb2, assume 1.50 AAV), Warren (min, 0.50 AAV), Betances (min, 0.50 AAV), Claiborne (min, 0.50 AAV)
Lineup (102.18 AAV, net) – Ellsbury (21.87 AAV), Jeter (12.81 AAV), Beltran (15.00 AAV), Teixeira (22.50 AAV), Soriano (4.00 AAV, net of payment from CHC), McCann (17.00 AAV), Gardner (arb3, assume 4.00 AAV), Johnson (3.00 AAV), Roberts (2.00 AAV)
Bench (9.50 AAV, net) - Cervelli (arb1, assume 1.00 AAV), Ryan (2.00 AAV), Suzuki (6.50 AAV), Wells (0.00 AAV, net of payments from LAA/TOR)
This assumes Rodriguez is suspended for the entire 2014 season and assumes Nunez (who has one option remaining) begins the year at AAA. This also assumes that none of Jeter's bonuses are hit.
Total AAV is 164.58 (plus the cost of a solid #2/3 starter), plus 17.00 AAV in benefits/40 man roster.
That leaves approx. 7.42 AAV to fill out/upgrade the roster and remain under the luxury tax threshold.
Rotation (41.90 AAV + FA) - Sabathia (24.40 AAV), Kuroda (16.00 AAV), FA, Nova (arb1, assume 1.00 AAV), Pineda (min, 0.50 AAV)
Bullpen (11.00 AAV) - Robertson (arb3, assume 4.00 AAV), Phelps (min, 0.50 AAV), Thornton (3.50 AAV), Kelley (arb2, assume 1.50 AAV), Warren (min, 0.50 AAV), Betances (min, 0.50 AAV), Claiborne (min, 0.50 AAV)
Lineup (102.18 AAV, net) – Ellsbury (21.87 AAV), Jeter (12.81 AAV), Beltran (15.00 AAV), Teixeira (22.50 AAV), Soriano (4.00 AAV, net of payment from CHC), McCann (17.00 AAV), Gardner (arb3, assume 4.00 AAV), Johnson (3.00 AAV), Roberts (2.00 AAV)
Bench (9.50 AAV, net) - Cervelli (arb1, assume 1.00 AAV), Ryan (2.00 AAV), Suzuki (6.50 AAV), Wells (0.00 AAV, net of payments from LAA/TOR)
This assumes Rodriguez is suspended for the entire 2014 season and assumes Nunez (who has one option remaining) begins the year at AAA. This also assumes that none of Jeter's bonuses are hit.
Total AAV is 164.58 (plus the cost of a solid #2/3 starter), plus 17.00 AAV in benefits/40 man roster.
That leaves approx. 7.42 AAV to fill out/upgrade the roster and remain under the luxury tax threshold.
crow216 said:
1. Cannot be done. They are already over, if Rodriguez's contract (27.50 AAV) is included.
2. Also cannot be done, if the rumored price for Tanaka exceeds $15mm/year.
Per my calculations, the Yankees have approx. $7.5mm of room under the threshold. Teams generally want to go into the season with at least $5mm of room, assuming mid-year trades. Right now, the Yankees will be hard-pressed to sign a mid-rotation starter and remain under the threshold, even assuming Rodriguez's suspension is upheld (or at least reduced to not less than one full season).
So to summarize, basically what you're saying is that if ARod plays at least 25% of the season they're over the cap as of this moment? Is that correct?
If so, I mean this offseason is monumentally stupid for them unless they're done spending AND they know for sure that ARod will miss the entire season. Because if they go over the cap by a few million after passing on Cano and other much better players who were available to fill some holes, that's horrible management.
Edit- I see you're assuming they add another starter so I guess as of right now they have more leeway.
If so, I mean this offseason is monumentally stupid for them unless they're done spending AND they know for sure that ARod will miss the entire season. Because if they go over the cap by a few million after passing on Cano and other much better players who were available to fill some holes, that's horrible management.
Edit- I see you're assuming they add another starter so I guess as of right now they have more leeway.
Silver lining in this for the Yankees is that the decision on A-Rod is expected in January, from what I've read. The new agreement for posting Japanese players stipulates that teams have from Nov. 1 to Feb. 1 to post them, and then the team(s) with the top bid have 30 days to sign him.
So, at a minimum, they should know before the end of the Tanaka derby whether or not A-Rod's gonna cost them $$ in 2014 and thus blow them past the 189. At which point, there's no point holding back on Tanaka.
(As a Sox fan, I'm torn. Competitively, clearing A-Rod off the books gives them a shot at <189, and if that's their true aim then his being gone all year makes them competitively weaker in '14. A-Rod getting a reduction in suspension would cost the Steins 10s of millions in lost 189-level rebates, which is nice, I guess. But I don't doubt that it would make the Yankees better and more inclined to start spending big on Tanaka, Ubaldo?, Drew?, Garza? And that makes them a threat in '14.)
So, at a minimum, they should know before the end of the Tanaka derby whether or not A-Rod's gonna cost them $$ in 2014 and thus blow them past the 189. At which point, there's no point holding back on Tanaka.
(As a Sox fan, I'm torn. Competitively, clearing A-Rod off the books gives them a shot at <189, and if that's their true aim then his being gone all year makes them competitively weaker in '14. A-Rod getting a reduction in suspension would cost the Steins 10s of millions in lost 189-level rebates, which is nice, I guess. But I don't doubt that it would make the Yankees better and more inclined to start spending big on Tanaka, Ubaldo?, Drew?, Garza? And that makes them a threat in '14.)
I think they can stay under if they just trust the pitching talent within the stinking organization. 2014 ain't about winning it all so people should relax. Rotation out of camp could be CC, Nova, Kuroda, Pineda and Phelps. Adam Warren is No. 6. Vidal Nuno No. 7.
Pineda is the key to everything in 2014 for the Yankees. He's a long-shot but I've seen longer ones come in at the track.
Just once, I would like to see this organization trust its young talent. I can live with another 85-win season.
Pineda is the key to everything in 2014 for the Yankees. He's a long-shot but I've seen longer ones come in at the track.
Just once, I would like to see this organization trust its young talent. I can live with another 85-win season.
jon abbey said:
$6,000,000 contract. Average revenue $53/fan. Fans needed to cover contract: 133,207.
lm(formula = Attendance ~ record + Ichiro, data=YS2012)
Coefficients:
(Intercept): 16,103.5, (p < 0.05)
record: 46,717, (p < 0.001)
Ichiro: 1,757, (p < 0.05)
1,757 * 81 = 142,317 * $53 = $7,542,801
Huh.
I can't find an updated article about Ichiro's effect on ticket sales (and of course it will be very hard to quantify), but here's one from mid-2012 when the trade happened (and there are lots in Seattle papers bemoaning the effect on the local economy after he was traded):
"The Yankees made the deal well aware of those ancillary benefits, having experienced them when Hideki Matsui played for New York from 2003 to 2009. A senior Yankee official said that the team is expecting to reap those rewards.
"I think we'll have a ticket boost, there'll be a merchandise boost, that Ichiro jersey will sell. There'll be boosts all over the place," the official said."
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390443437504577547613166163308
"The Yankees made the deal well aware of those ancillary benefits, having experienced them when Hideki Matsui played for New York from 2003 to 2009. A senior Yankee official said that the team is expecting to reap those rewards.
"I think we'll have a ticket boost, there'll be a merchandise boost, that Ichiro jersey will sell. There'll be boosts all over the place," the official said."
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390443437504577547613166163308
jon abbey said:
It wasn't that hard to quantify. Controlling for record, in 2012 the addition of Ichiro brought in, on average, an additional 1,757 fans per game.
Shamelessly stole this from here, then added Roberts and Thornton.
1- C: Brian McCann (5/$85MM) $17.000MM
2- 1B: Mark Teixeira (8/$180MM) $22.500MM
3- 2B: Brian Roberts (1/$2MM) $2MM
4- 3B: Kelly Johnson (1/$3MM) $3MM
5- SS: Derek Jeter (1/$12.81MM) $12.810MM + $7.000MM Bonuses (not counted)
6- LF: Jacoby Ellsbury (8/$169MM) $21.175MM
7- CF: Brett Gardner (Arb 3) $4.000MM
8- RF: Alfonso Soriano (8/$136MM) $17.000MM*
9- DH: Carlos Beltran (3/$45MM) $15.000MM
10- BN: Brendan Ryan (1/$2MM) $2.000MM
11- BN: Vernon Wells (7/$126MM) $18.000MM**
12- BN: Ichiro Suzuki (2/$13MM) $6.500MM
13- BN: Francisco Cervelli (Arb 1) $1.000MM
14- SP1: CC Sabathia (5/$122MM) $24.400MM
15- SP2: Hiroki Kuroda (1/$16MM) $16.00MM
16- SP3: Ivan Nova (Arb 1) $2.800MM
17- SP4: David Phelps (Min) $0.511MM
18- SP5: Michael Pineda (Min) $0.511MM
19- CL: David Robertson (Arb 3) $5.500MM
20- RP: Shawn Kelley (Arb 2) $1.500MM
21- RP: Preston Claiborne (Min) $0.511MM
22- RP: Dellin Betances (Min) $0.511MM
23- RP: Adam Warren (Min) $0.511MM
24- RP: Vidal Nuno (Min) $0.511MM
25- RP: Matt Thornton $3.5MM
Total: $198.751MM
40-Man Roster
26- SP: Manny Banuelos (Min) $0.040MM
27- SP: Nik Turley (Min) $0.040MM
28- SP: Brett Marshall (Min+) $0.080MM
29- SP: Jose Ramirez (Min) $0.040MM
30- SP: Shane Greene (Min) $0.040MM
31- SP Jose Campos (Min) $0.040MM
32- RP: David Huff (Min+) $0.080MM
33- RP: Bryan Mitchell (Min) $0.040MM
34- C: Austin Romine (Min+) $0.080MM
35- C: Gary Sanchez (Min) $0.040MM
36- C: J.R. Murphy (Min) $0.080MM
37- IF: Dean Anna (Min) $0.040MM
38- OF: Ramon Flores (Min) $0.040MM
39- OF: Zoilo Almonte (Min+) $0.080MM
40- OF: Slade Heathcott* (Min) $0.040MM
RP: Cesar Cabral (Min) $0.511MM -- dropped from 25-man for Thornton -- assume he's off 40 for calculation
Eduardo Nunez (Min) $0.511MM -- dropped form 25-man for Roberts -- assume he's off 40 for calculation
Total: $0.88MM
Final Calculations
Total Roster Owed: $199.631MM
Cash Considerations: *-$13MM (From Cubs for Soriano), **-$18MM (From Angels for Wells)
Player Benefits: $12MM
Current Budget Owed: $180.829MM
Feel free to check my math, as I did this quickly between meetings. I think the $12m player benefits number may be high, so they may be at almost exactly $189mm.
I re-did these numbers and came out w/ the MFY still having ~$8.2mm left (which is within a million of AmFox's numbers). This assumes no ARod and no incentives earned by Roberts or Jeter.
1- C: Brian McCann (5/$85MM) $17.000MM
2- 1B: Mark Teixeira (8/$180MM) $22.500MM
3- 2B: Brian Roberts (1/$2MM) $2MM
4- 3B: Kelly Johnson (1/$3MM) $3MM
5- SS: Derek Jeter (1/$12.81MM) $12.810MM + $7.000MM Bonuses (not counted)
6- LF: Jacoby Ellsbury (8/$169MM) $21.175MM
7- CF: Brett Gardner (Arb 3) $4.000MM
8- RF: Alfonso Soriano (8/$136MM) $17.000MM*
9- DH: Carlos Beltran (3/$45MM) $15.000MM
10- BN: Brendan Ryan (1/$2MM) $2.000MM
11- BN: Vernon Wells (7/$126MM) $18.000MM**
12- BN: Ichiro Suzuki (2/$13MM) $6.500MM
13- BN: Francisco Cervelli (Arb 1) $1.000MM
14- SP1: CC Sabathia (5/$122MM) $24.400MM
15- SP2: Hiroki Kuroda (1/$16MM) $16.00MM
16- SP3: Ivan Nova (Arb 1) $2.800MM
17- SP4: David Phelps (Min) $0.511MM
18- SP5: Michael Pineda (Min) $0.511MM
19- CL: David Robertson (Arb 3) $5.500MM
20- RP: Shawn Kelley (Arb 2) $1.500MM
21- RP: Preston Claiborne (Min) $0.511MM
22- RP: Dellin Betances (Min) $0.511MM
23- RP: Adam Warren (Min) $0.511MM
24- RP: Vidal Nuno (Min) $0.511MM
25- RP: Matt Thornton $3.5MM
Total: $198.751MM
40-Man Roster
26- SP: Manny Banuelos (Min) $0.040MM
27- SP: Nik Turley (Min) $0.040MM
28- SP: Brett Marshall (Min+) $0.080MM
29- SP: Jose Ramirez (Min) $0.040MM
30- SP: Shane Greene (Min) $0.040MM
31- SP Jose Campos (Min) $0.040MM
32- RP: David Huff (Min+) $0.080MM
33- RP: Bryan Mitchell (Min) $0.040MM
34- C: Austin Romine (Min+) $0.080MM
35- C: Gary Sanchez (Min) $0.040MM
36- C: J.R. Murphy (Min) $0.080MM
37- IF: Dean Anna (Min) $0.040MM
38- OF: Ramon Flores (Min) $0.040MM
39- OF: Zoilo Almonte (Min+) $0.080MM
40- OF: Slade Heathcott* (Min) $0.040MM
RP: Cesar Cabral (Min) $0.511MM -- dropped from 25-man for Thornton -- assume he's off 40 for calculation
Eduardo Nunez (Min) $0.511MM -- dropped form 25-man for Roberts -- assume he's off 40 for calculation
Total: $0.88MM
Final Calculations
Total Roster Owed: $199.631MM
Cash Considerations: *-$13MM (From Cubs for Soriano), **-$18MM (From Angels for Wells)
Player Benefits: $12MM
Current Budget Owed: $180.829MM
I re-did these numbers and came out w/ the MFY still having ~$8.2mm left (which is within a million of AmFox's numbers). This assumes no ARod and no incentives earned by Roberts or Jeter.
kieckeredinthehead said:
I don't think your ticket price assumption there is close, I think a lot more of the Japanese fans are sitting in the pricy seats than they are the bleachers. Anyway, no matter the specifics, that's almost certainly the reason they resigned him (to two years!!) after 2012.
Rany Jazayerli wrote an article on the state of the Yankees for Grantland today. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/10150907/the-new-normal-new-york-yankees
It goes through the salary cap issue as well as the prospects of the team improving next season or in the near future. The picture he paints of the Yankees farm system and ability to offset the lack of talent in it through free agent signings is grim. I thought these two paragraphs were a good summary of the problems facing the Yankees lineup next season:
It goes through the salary cap issue as well as the prospects of the team improving next season or in the near future. The picture he paints of the Yankees farm system and ability to offset the lack of talent in it through free agent signings is grim. I thought these two paragraphs were a good summary of the problems facing the Yankees lineup next season:
A few quibbles with that piece, but basically it's a nice summary of everything we've been saying here for the last couple of seasons.
Again, the $189M plan was OK when they first thought of it, but when pretty much all of their pitching prospects got hurt or flamed out in 2012, it needed to be scrapped then, before the 2012-2013 offseason. By sticking to it, they've screwed themselves even more than they'd be screwed otherwise, and now they are in a very ugly position for the foreseeable future with no easy way to break back through to being a legit contender.
Again, the $189M plan was OK when they first thought of it, but when pretty much all of their pitching prospects got hurt or flamed out in 2012, it needed to be scrapped then, before the 2012-2013 offseason. By sticking to it, they've screwed themselves even more than they'd be screwed otherwise, and now they are in a very ugly position for the foreseeable future with no easy way to break back through to being a legit contender.
amfox1 said:
Maybe they're planning to cut benefits to save money.
Shades of last decade.
jon abbey said:
Although this would be my favored scenario.
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