Last winter, the Yankees actually showed a small amount of restraint in not acquiring the greatest and brightest available (Johan Santana), in favor of holding on to their prospects. With big free agents out there, expect that streak of restraint to end at one. And yes, Hank Steinbrenner would consider making a run at long time Yankee nemesis Manny Ramirez:"There's nothing we are not looking at," the team's co-chairperson said Friday at the team's spring training complex. "And personally, I like Manny. He's one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game. He's a free spirit for sure, but he knows how to win. We like some of the other guys, too. We just don't know yet."Oh, and CC Sabathia too.
"Every team in baseball wants Sabathia," Steinbrenner said. "That's the bottom line. It's not a real secret. Pitching is in the forefront for everybody, not just us. That's why starting pitching is at a premium."After a disappointing (for them) third place finish, expect the Yankees to be like a patron at Spago's picking from the most expensive dishes on the menu, then ordering one of everything. And considering that WFAN radio host Mike Francesa said during his Friday show that a well connected person in the Yankee world told him that the team was getting ready to blow everyone away in their offer for Sabathia, this off-season could have pinstripes drawn all over them.
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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamles, the World Series MVP, addresses the fans during the baseball teams' celebration of their World Series Championship, Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 31: Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies waves to the fans during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks on October 31, 2008 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmy Rollins
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Chase Utley arrives at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chase Utley
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Pat Burrell and his dog Elvis arrive at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pat Burrell
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Shane Victorino arrives at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Victorino
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Jamie Moyer (L) and Brett Myers (R) arrive at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brett Myers;Jamie Moyer
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: The Phillie Phanatic celebrates at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Fans celebrate at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Cole Hamels speaks at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cole Hamels
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Philadelphia Phillies Shane Victorino carries the World Series Trophy at a victory rally at Citizens Bank Park October 31, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series in 28 years. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Victorino
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-01-2008 @ 2:48PM
mookie said...
thats what makes baseball fun!!!!!! Not! Having 5 teams that can buy whatever they want. try being a real fan. most of you guys have no idea.baseball really needs a cap. it just isnt fair. its rediculous. yankees, red sox, anaheim.have fun rooting for your bought teams.
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11-01-2008 @ 5:44PM
Anthony Ruiz said...
Yuks better forget CC he's building a house in Califorina !HA, HA ,the NY YUKEES better worry more about thier new staduim.
11-01-2008 @ 7:04PM
Greg Williams said...
mookie you have a point..but who is your team? did you have a better record than tampa bay? bet your budget was as high! baseball is a great game and regardless of $ after 162 games it is incredibly close..yankees have not won since they did it with home grown talent. and then we paid to keep them and continued to win..yes money helps...
11-01-2008 @ 9:10PM
danny said...
its just business,, nothing wrong with wanting to make your company more money, they are not greedy by reinvesting money into their company to make more, maybe some of the other team owners should learn from the yankees and spend money on their own team, instead of pocketing it
11-01-2008 @ 2:52PM
Dalton said...
well.....first of all.....the teams buying players is a moot point.......Tampa Bay and Philly proved that money doesn't buy championships......it still comes down to team chemistry, and for the ones that don't have it, you try to build a team that will gel together, no matter what salary.......if money bough championships, New York would win year in and year out, but thats not the case.......try not to get overwhelmed with teams that have money , and teams that don't......just ask the Minnesots, the Rays, the Phillies......I could go on and on........
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11-01-2008 @ 3:41PM
Dr-Evil29 said...
When a teams "buys" a Type A free agent they give up 2 picks in the draft their 1st & their supplemental so the team that is losing the player gets compensation. Also teams like the NYY, Boston, Mets and the Angels pay luxury tax to "small market teams" last year the NYY paid 25+ million into that pool. This makes small market teams way more profitable then the Big Teams on their balance sheets.
Teams like the Twins who are considered small market and cry poverty have one of the richest owners in America and they can spend money like any other team but they do not that is no ones fault but the theirs. Please stop with the CAP jargon it is a moot point.
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11-01-2008 @ 3:53PM
mike said...
dont like the idea of manny, sabathia i can handle i would like to see the yanks make a move for griffey to replace abreu
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11-01-2008 @ 4:18PM
benson said...
If only we could trade fake all star, no power for postseason, A-ROD. We should bring in an eligimate hitter who will actually hit when needed and not put up large numbers when they dont count,,,,A-ROD IS THE CURSE ,,,,,,like bambino was for boston.....awwwww.just hearing about the red sox makes me puke.....I despise them.
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11-01-2008 @ 4:28PM
tig said...
Dalton,
There is no denying that small-market teams can make it to the World Series. However, there is also no denying that large-market, free-spending teams have several times as many chances to make it to the big game. Answer this, did the Phillies or Rays have any major injuries to vital members of their teams this year? No, that's why they got as far as they did. Players in this league are paid based on their abilities. If a player making $10 million for the Yankees goes down they simply replace him with someone else making $5 million. Speaking as a Kansas City fan, if one of our players making $2 million goes down we are forced to replace him with someone making $500k. So while the small-market teams do have the ability to win, unless they have a perfect season as far as injuries are concerned the odds are not in their favor.
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11-01-2008 @ 5:01PM
Bob & Carol, Ted & Alice said...
Manny the diva...yuck! He's overpaid, overhyped, overexposed, overbearing, overfed, overgreedy, overripe, overzealous, and soon to be over-the-hill. Teams should boycott him and send him a message. He'll act-up for the Yankees, and they'll be sorry they ever laid eyes on him. He's a spoiled little boy, playing a kids' game.
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11-01-2008 @ 5:12PM
fast44fred said...
And the Brewer fans actually thought that C C would resign with them. Why do you think the Indians traded him away?
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11-01-2008 @ 5:33PM
rcott said...
Hankstein is going to push the Yankees to the 300 million payroll level, and in the process he's going to decimate the organization by giving up every decent prospect they have, except maybe Chamberlain. And when they have injuries, which are inevitable, they're going to have to scrape to fill the holes. If you get really lucky and the baseball gods spare you injuries, you can buy a championship, but youre depending on a whole lot of luck. It's a fact, Boston has a distinct advantage because they are versatile and deep. I'll bet on structure before payroll every time.
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11-01-2008 @ 5:46PM
John said...
Well said Benson - the Yanks do need an eligimate hitter - whatever the f that is
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11-01-2008 @ 6:10PM
paul milliken said...
It's quite obvious that money can't buy championships especially when there is proof. When you have the Wilpons the owners of the NY Mets and their GM Omar Minaya thats proof enough. It's very clear that the Mets team isn't good enough to win a championship yet alone win their own division. Every team that made the playoffs this year had a lower payroll then the Mets and there were even more teams like the Marlins, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays etc.that are a lot closer to being a contender then the Mets are for next year. And untill the Wilpons get into some therapy and fire Minaya they will remain the laughing stock of all professional sports owners in baseball.
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11-02-2008 @ 8:16PM
John said...
Mookie please don't cry.
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11-01-2008 @ 6:50PM
RC said...
say what you want -The Yanks have the most World Series Championship wins of all time , 26 to be exact and it will take 200 years more before any team comes close to that number . The hater jealousy runs deep , But , The Yanks will be the richest and winningest team forever !
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11-01-2008 @ 7:18PM
RC said...
I don't agree Boston has the advantage , The Yanks will forever be the winningest and richest team . Can everyone say " 26 Worls Championships " ?
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11-01-2008 @ 7:48PM
gary kirch said...
RC Why not learn how to spell.
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11-01-2008 @ 7:51PM
TAMAKUN said...
I've got news for you guys. The Florida Marlins started playing seven yars after the Mets won for the last time. Since then the Marlins won two WS (1997 and 2003) and I bet you they will win another one before the Mets win again. Marlins payroll is always at the bottom of the list.
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11-02-2008 @ 1:19AM
brendan4 said...
philly fan here. and as giddy as i am, the fact that the yankees are always willing to pay for whatever they need ,is something i think all fans wish we could say of our owners.
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