The Yankees Are the New Yankees

Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. Or something like that. This new Yankee spending spree has brought them to a place where few franchises have ever known. Well really, only one team spends like this. And it's the same team that spending money at the rate of running water today. Ladies and gentlemen, your New York Yankees.

From the first $50,000 player (Babe Ruth) to the first $27 million player (Alex Rodriguez), the Yankees have consistently set standards in spending. What makes this round unique is that their payroll might actually drop from last season if they trade Xavier Nady, a deal making the rumor rounds. Also, it comes after an offseason of rare restraint, when the club didn't pursue a trade for Johan Santana at the cost of the young players.

That's key because while you might think that the Yanks would regret the fact that spending the money they have on guys like Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina, and Carl Pavano hasn't brought them a World Series title, the Yankees are probably thinking that the one season they show faith in the young kids and pass on a premium pitcher, they don't even make the playoffs. So it's back to what they know best, throwing money at their problems.

I guess there's a certain admiration to be had for a team that gives a big middle finger to the world's economic problems by having the four top salaries in baseball and building a stadium with $15 million worth of HD televisions all around the stadium. Whether it results in a World Series appearance is another conversation. But the Yankees are back to being the Yankees that we all know and love. Or hate. Or love to hate.