Well, they are not really looking at Albert Pujols yet, as he is not a free agent until after this season.
But the Yankees have said all along their priority is Cliff Lee with GM Brian Cashman already meeting with the Lee family at their home in Arkansas. And yesterday Hank Steinbrenner said, "It's no secret we want Cliff and we will do whatever it takes to get him. That's the bottom line."
That kind of statement doesn't sound like the Yankees are trying to drive up the price for the Texas Rangers or Los Angeles Angels for the right to the left-handed hurler.
Lee, who lost his last two starts of the season during the 2010 World Series to the aggressive San Francisco Giants, appears to be guaranteed at least $23 million per season for six or seven years. Hank's statement above indicates they are willing to go longer.
This has been quite the week for the Yankees.
They have re-signed Mariano Rivera to a two-year deal for $30 million. Talks with Derek Jeter's agent Casey Close began again on Tuesday with the Yankees supposedly upping their offer. Both sides met again on Friday, and things appear even better.
As I have said many times, Jeter will be re-signed by the Yankees before the Winter Meetings. Cashman wants to concentrate solely on the free agent possibilities without hordes of Jeter questions.
And the Yankees almost pulled off a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in a swap of catchers. Francisco Cervelli was headed to LA-LA land for the overrated Russell Martin, a guy who can't receive the ball cleanly and whose OPS has rapidly declined.
All for the privilege of paying Martin a few million bucks while playing bad baseball. Now that Martin is essentially a free agent after being non-tendered, they maybe can get him much cheaper, maybe Sergio Mitre money—double what Cervelli earns.
Did you even know that while Cervelli will be cheaper for the Yankees this season and the pitchers like working with him, the Kid had an even higher OPS than Martin each of the last two seasons? Cervelli even slugged higher than Martin did each season.
Look it up, I'll wait.
Now the Yankees have inquired with OF Carl Crawford's representatives and both sides could meet at the Winter Meetings next week.
Why not? The expensive seats in the New-New Yankees Stadium were almost full for the playoffs. They have the cash.
But even if you have the cash, why is there a hole burning in the Yankees pocket to spend it on other teams players?
They don't need Carl Crawford, especially at about $17-20 million per year. Brett Gardner is fine out in LF; he gets on base, plays great defense and will probably be the full time lead off hitter in 2011.
Yankees don't need Crawford, but it sure looks like they want him.
I drive a Toyota Avalon. It is a nice car and gets me around the block and to the ball fields in Scranton, Trenton and Staten Island. It is not what I want. I want a Ferrari (black by the way), but I can't afford a Ferrari.
And the Yankees can't afford Crawford and Lee after signing Mariano for $15 million per year and Jeter for a minimum of $17 million per year. After the two first ballot HOFers are in the stable, that would give the Yankees an existing payroll of $176 million, not including Andy Pettitte, not including the arbitration-eligible guys.
After the Mitre deal, arb-eligible players includes Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Boone Logan. Predictions run as high as $8 million for those three.
If the Yankees sign both Lee and Crawford, it would add around $40 million per season, probably a few dollars more. That gives the Yankees $224 million before Pettitte.
That is $224 million plus about $20-$30 million in luxury tax.
In 2012, the Yankees would have eliminated Jorge Posada from the payroll but will still have $107 million plus Jeter, Mo, Lee and Crawford and raises for Granderson and a Swisher option for 2012.
Trade somebody? Who? Swisher? What are you going to get for him? Well, maybe the Yanks can buyout Swisher's contract for the million bucks after 2012. They could waive AJ and hope someone takes him, saving a zillion dollars and a bunch of future blow ups.
Then what about when Cano's deal comes up in his age 30 year after his 2013 option? How much will he deserve when he has a few more seasons like 2010?
Maybe $20 million, how about $25 million per? Then after Hughes has another 18-win season, what is he going to earn?
Isn't this getting out of hand? When does this end for the Yankees? Does every player on their starting nine have to have eight figure salaries?
Why not sign Pujols next season for a 1B/3B/DH guy as a rover? They can trade all their young prospects for Prince Fielder to be a power lefty off the bench. The team doesn't need all the prospects since they are not promoting their own but signing other teams best players.
I know all these free agent signings (and highly unlikely trades mentioned above) will get Doug Rush's tighty-whities at half staff, but signing Lee and Crawford would force the Yankees into a terrible financial bind through the next decade.
And, in a young man's game, more than half their roster will be in their mid-30s.
Yeah, I am sure that Lee's couple of back issues over the last few years are nothing. And Crawford running and playing all those games on the carpeted concrete in the Trop in Tampa won't affect his speed or quality of play in 2013 and beyond.
I find it very hard to root against guys like Crawford and Lee, then have to turn around and have to root for them (for the benefit of my favorite team) over the next half decade.
I appreciate the work that CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira put in as Yankee players, but they are not nearly as big fans of theirs as I am for Jeter, Cano, Pettitte, Posada, Gardner, Hughes and Mariano.
AJ Burnett I could care less about and actually root against him.
I frankly don't want the Yankees to sign Lee or Crawford, the Yankees do not need them. They won 95 games last season without either one and will not have to go up against Crawford 19 times a year when the Angels sign him.
The idea in spending big money on contracts is to re-sign your own players you want to keep (Rivera and Jeter). Or you extend even younger guys beyond their arbitration seasons and perhaps a few free agent years (Cano, Hughes?). It is not to sign other teams best players every other season.
Except if Albert Pujols becomes available, then the Yanks can move Alex to DH, Tex to third and leave Pujols at first or maybe let Albert play 3B.
Until Evan Longoria becomes available in 2017.
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