As our country’s economy weakens and shivers and coughs it’s way through the winter. Our nation’s past time is glowing and smiling with a fresh tan ready for summer. After Congress and the rest of us, debated ad nauseum as to whether or not it would be a good idea to bail out the auto makers, Brian Cashman and Scott Boras decided it would be a good idea to bail out the richest men in baseball.

We should all start to wonder how fast the federal bail out would have went through if the big three were lefty pitchers or switch hitters with power. Sadly, they were neither. The big three make automobiles. The Yankees make disappointment. year after year, the Yankee brass, throw fiscal responsibility to the wind and dump multi-millions on men who come October will once again come up short.

Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, and CC Sabathia have come together in the Bronx and with them pile up nearly a BILLION dollars in contracts on the table (805 million). The Yankees are proving once again (or once and for all) that they operate their business in a complete vacuum, isolated from reality.

This was the year that fiscal responsibility could have made an appearance in Major League Baseball. The table was set early with record setting closer Frankie Rodriguez accepting an oddly lower than expected contract from the Mets. Soon after, Manny Ramirez would not commit to a Dodger offer of over twenty million dollars a year for two years.

Rafael Furcal re-signed with the Dodgers for around 10 million a year. The table was set and the standard was sort of established. No one blew Manny away with a five year offer. Furcal was making the same money as K-Rod but playing every day and hitting. It seemed all the owners had to do was wait and the belt around Scott Boras would get tighter and tighter until finally, for once in his life he would have to settle for a little less.

What happened instead was the Yankees put a few more notches in his belt. Over spending for Teixeira all the while bidding pretty much against themselves. Watching the Yankees this year should be boring. It will look a lot like watching the all star game.  Big stars and fan favorites faking unity until it’s time to change out of their matching laundry.

The Yankees ruined Christmas for everyone. Maybe even themselves. If mark Teixeira can command a 22.4 million dollar annual salary, shouldn’t Manny Ramirez command 25 million? I think so. Unfortunately, by spending huge on Tex and giving him an eight year deal, the Yankees made Manny Ramirez’s eyes wide as saucers. Certainly Manny now sees himself worthy of a four year contract, hell that’s only HALF of what Teixeira got. At the end of the day, only the Yankees will be able to make an offer that will make Manny happy. All the big name free agents will still be on the table in another couple of weeks because they now know that whether you win a World Series or not, pinstripes is the place to be. Sit tight Derrek Lowe, hang in their Manny, you will be Bronx Bombers soon. You will be rich beyond your wildest dreams. Just make sure you have good vacation plans for late October. That is the other great thing about playing for the Yankees, you get an extra month off at the end of the year.

MOHR thoughts:
I would like to offer my services to be Yankee pitcher Chien Ming Wang’s agent. I have no agent training but I did play a sports agent in a movie once. I couldn’t be any worse than his current agent. Wang just signed a one year deal with the Yankees for 5 million dollars. This comes on the heals of the Yankees signing Right hander A.J. Burnett to a deal that pays him 16 million a year.

Let’s compare:
A.J. Burnett over the last four years. 50 wins—-30  losses. 16 million dollar salary.
Chien Ming Wang over the last four years. 54 wins—–20 losses. 5 million dollar salary.
If I was Chien Ming Wang I would be having a freaking fit through my interpreter right now.

JJ