The Yankees Aren’t Done Spending Their Money

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees will still be spending money even after they acquire Mike Cameron. Yankee officials say they see the payroll being lower than last season. It’s hard to believe. They have added Sabathia, Burnett, Swisher, and possibly Cameron and Pettitte. Then add a big bat like Tex or Manny? It would be the best offseason ever in my mind if they landed either of the two.

Ken Rosenthal: Yanks ain’t done yet…

Scream all you want about the Yankees’ spending. Club officials continue to say that the team’s projected payroll will be lower than it was last season.

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Roster changes

2008	2009
Jason Giambi, $23.4M	CC Sabathia
Bobby Abreu, $16M	A.J. Burnett
Mike Mussina, $11M	Mike Cameron
Kyle Farnsworth, $5.9M	Nick Swisher

Consider the list of players coming off the Yankees’ 2008 roster—and the players who could or will take their approximate salary slots in 2009. See table:

The Yankees also are shedding Carl Pavano’s $11 million salary and trying to re-sign Andy Pettitte or add another pitcher for less than the $16 million that Pettitte earned in ‘08.

So, general manager Brian Cashman could have one big move left even if he added a Cameron—and even after re-signing lefty reliever Damaso Marte for $12 million over three years and accounting for salary increases to other players.

That move might not be for Mark Teixeira, though the Yankees probably could fit him into their 2009 payroll if they structured his contract creatively. More likely, they will go for a lesser bat, maybe even Abreu at a discounted rate.

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from the NY Daily News:

• Mariano Rivera continues to progress nicely in his rehabilitation from offseason shoulder surgery.
• According to the New York Daily News, Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez placed multiple phone calls to A.J. Burnett, recruiting him to join the Yankees.

Gordon, Overlooked Yankee, Gets His Due  Something For Sabathia To Shoot For