Why do I detect a “Buddha Belly” reference there? >;)

Point was if the Yankees want to move him, they will. They will either eat salary, or take on another problem contract in return, or package something of value with Sabathia.

J.Santana — FIP 3.71, ERA 3.14
C.M. Wang – FIP 3.76, ERA 3.82
A. Pettitte — FIP 3.70, ERA 3.93

So pitching in a defense neutral environment, Andy and Wang were basically the same pitcher as Santana (in 2007)

But it’s that bat in the middle of the lineup that Teixeira provides, and is likely to provide pretty reliably for quite a few years. Finding outfielders becomes easier if you’re looking for guys who can hit 6-7 in the lineup rather than 3-5. Dunn would really be the only alternative, but Teixeira’s considerably better (especially if you count defense, even at 1B). I expect that gap to widen in a few years.

Having Teixeira and Rodriguez batting 3-4 would solve a lot of problems for a long time. It’s expensive, but a good long-term investment. There aren’t going to be any FA outfielders that good in the immediate future.

However, I don’t think the economy is going to be in such a good shape that anyone (maybe Boston or LA) is going to pay CC more than what he’s going to be making. And if the Yankees are in the midst of another WS dynasty, would he really want to move?

not that i want that to happen, mind you.

But, is anyone else not looking forward to 2015, when we’ll have a 40-year old A-Rod and 33 year-old CC making $55 million??

I imagine that they are planning on going with Joba as the 5 man and Hughes in AAA to continue to work.

On the other hand, and not that I advocate it, that does, “in theory,” open up Hughes to be traded for one Jaake Peavey. Wouldn’t a rotation of CC, Peavey, Wang, Lowe, and Joba be super awesome?

But again, I don’t think that’s the case.

“Dear Andy,

We offered you $10M. You want $16M.

We know you want to play for us, and open the New Staidum, badly.

Either take the $10M now or you’re going to be on the outside looking in.

love,

The Yankees”

Hopefully that jazz is just trying to apply leverage to AJ/Sheets/Lowe (sign now or one of the other guys will!) I would hate to have so many long term pitching contracts – they better not have NTCs!

1) He won’t want to be the last guy standing when the Yanks FA signing music stops.

2) He should be more optimistic for success with the way we’re stacking the rotation.

After three years, the odds of someone offering a 31 year old CC 5-6 years at OVER $25M/year is highly, highly doubtful.

Either CC will opt out because he simply wants to go to a WC team or because he wants the Yanks to add an addition two years, giving him another 6 or so year contract at $25M/year.

Or, he won’t opt out, realizing that 4 years at $92M is the best he will get for his 31-34 years with lots of mileage on his hefty arm.

Any of those three options don’t really hurt the Yankees all that much. If in three years they haven’t developed the farm system more/given themselves enough depth, its their own damn fault.

[42] In a way, opt outs might be the next big thing in persuasive negotiations. Because MLB players have guaranteed deals, the only risks they assume are opportunity costs (i.e., damn, I could have made more money). Giving them opt outs would essentially remove even that risk. What’s more, because the Yankees will always be able to pay more money, the chances of another team outbidding them would be remote (although, as with Arod, the Yankees have shown a willingness to bid against themselves).