Re: Matsui and the value brought by the Japanese media deals…they were going away post 2009 anyway (or at least dropping dramatically in value at that time). We weren’t signing him again under just about any circumstances that I can paint. {Ok fine – .300/380/550, 30-100, but I don’t see that happening). So if we trade him it just accelerates that impact by a year. Not that big a deal IMO.

Like I said though, I’ll be sad to see him go, this year or next.

ANYTHING from Gammons? At all? Bueller?

I FEEL SO GUILTY!!!!!!!!!
(I expect it to last until…ummm… ahhhhh… say April)

Really – $22.5 per year for 8 years? For a first baseman with worse numbers than Giambi when he was signed? I was hoping the Yankees would force the RSox into this sort of messy deal with too much time, too much money, for not enough hitter.

This isn’t Manny we’re talking about here. Tex age 23-28 has an average annual OPS+ of 134. vs. Manny’s 157 for the same ages. Note that Manny’s peak OPS+ was at age 28. Great year to sign an 8 year contract. This contract is almost as nuts as A-Rod’s but his age 23-28 OPS+ was 148.6 as a SS! (Baseball Ref).

Of course Tex will be great. But this game, even for the Yankees, is about getting the most bang for the least buck – that’s what leads to championships as the evil enemy up north has taught us with a branding iron.