A-Rod/Yankees Notes
- I’m not going to say $275 million for 10 years is a steal for the Yankees, but those in the media -- and a select few owners -- that weren’t smart enough to realize that A-Rod is worth $30 million per year right now really missed the boat. Yahoo’s Jeff Passan points out that MLB teams paid just under $2.5 billion in salary in 2007. That was about 41 percent of total revenues. In 2001, it was 56 percent. In 1992, it was 52 percent. The NFL, NBA and NHL are all over 50 percent. Baseball players as a whole are underpaid by at least 10 and probably 20 percent. There were several teams that truly had the money to pay $30 million per year for A-Rod. Most simply figured -- rightly or wrongly -- that they’d make more money without him.
- With A-Rod back in New York, I have to revise some of my free agent predictions from Monday’s column. I had Torii Hunter coming to New York, presumably with Melky Cabrera being moved for pitching. Now I’d put Hunter in Texas.
- Lowell to the Yankees as a first baseman might be the worst idea I’ve heard this winter. The Yankees would be giving $56 million-$60 million to a 34-year-old and then taking away most of his defensive value and putting him in a ballpark that’s much less kind to his stroke. Lowell hit .276/.339/.428 away from Fenway last season (though he was a lot better on the road in 2006). Overall, Lowell has posted a .286/.347/.464 line the last four years, averaging 19 homers and 86 RBI per year. Even if he stays the same and doesn’t decline like the vast majority of the players in their mid-30s, he’d be worth about $6 million-$8 million per season as a first baseman. A Wilson Betemit/Shelley Duncan platoon would have a reasonable shot of outproducing him.
Comments
Hi Matthew:
I suspect that even some of the MLB owners wouldn't understand those player salary numbers. If you compare some of the salaries and performances against ARod, this is definitely a reasonable price to pay.
However, I think that the integrity of several of the personalities involved have been tarnished by the way in which developments have unfolded to date.
Boras is, in my opinion, a complete sleaze. His decision to announce during game 4 of the World Series lacked class. His ( at least I am guessing that it was his ) decision to opt out cost the Yankees $21 M in subsidy from the Rangers. An extension could (should) have been worked out that allowed that money to stay on the books,
Cashman's announcement, apparently unauthorized by ownership, that the Yankees would not negotiate with ARod if he opted out, was either premature or an outright lie. Who knows what part ARod himself actually played.
All in all, none of them come out unscathed.
I see Kenny Rogers fired Boras. I hope other players follow suit. Andruw, are you listening ?
What is your take on this soap opera, Matthew.
cheers
Wayne
Posted by: Wayne | November 19, 2007 02:28 PM