Cheers, Mike!
Usually, when I prepare for a post like this I read every article or blog that covers it so I either have information to use or to ensure I don’t copy whatever someone else has written.
This time, I’m flying solo. The idea of reading any of the whining I know is coming in regard to Mark Teixeira makes my eye twitch.
I’m not sorry the Sox didn’t get him. I’m truly not. But reading people bash the front office because the Yankees decided to throw a ridiculous contract at yet ANOTHER free agent isn’t how I want to spend my evening.
Wait, I lied. I read Red’s take on it. My favorite subject line of the day. And, actually, Denton’s view (also over at Surviving Grady) is one I share:
Wherever he lands, it will be his 4th team in just his 7th big-league season, not to mention the non-signing with the Red Sox back in the 1998 draft. I don’t know how he’s done it, but Teixeira has avoided any and all criticism for doing exactly what guys like A-Rod, Pedro and Clemens have done: pimping themselves out to the highest bidder.
So you have the understanding that I’m not exactly broken up about the Yankees signing Teixeira. I don’t see this as a failure by Theo/the Front Office. I don’t think they were outsmarted or outmaneuvered.  Cashman is determined to buy up all the free agents this off-season and that’s what he’s doing. Why this surprises anyone is beyond me.
I don’t live in a cave, I know Teixeira is good. But he’s not a good as the contract he got and no one will convince me that he is. With this acquisition, the Yankees will employ the four highest paid players in Major League Baseball. They just came off a season where they finished behind the Red Sox and the Rays – so why are people acting like Cashman’s spending spree is an oddity?
I received an email this afternoon from a Yankee fan who used to comment on my blog more regularly (read: when they weren’t in third place). He was gloating about Teixeira and became defensive when I wouldn’t take the bait and join him in a flame war.  “Don’t pretend that you aren’t heartbroken that Cashman shoved it up Epstein’s ass” is a direct quote from one of his messages to me. I didn’t even bother to respond because that idea is just too funny to me. All Cashman did was show MLB that the idea of building his team around young and homegrown talent is out the window. The decision has been made that the only way to win it all is to buy it. Now, I don’t have much of a problem with that, bring the players in who you believe will make your team successful…except for one small issue: the Yankees have been “buying” for years and all they have to show for it these past 8 seasons is a bunch of AL East Champion banners. Color me unimpressed.
I’m proud that our front office has created limits for themselves.  They set a number and stuck to it (and held to their resolve to not give out no-trade clauses) and Boras couldn’t force their hand. The Yankees are definitely a better team for having picked up Teixeira, but the Red Sox aren’t a worse team for not getting him. That’s good enough for me.
Now let’s work on the catcher situation, eh Theo?
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