AL East Not Scared by $430 Million

Ladies and gentlemen, the Yankees have just dished out around $430 million for three players. And you know what, I am still not the least bit fazed by this team.

Granted, they are going to be better, but they still aren't what the Red Sox and the Rays are. Let's break down each new contract. 

First, the CC Sabathia deal.

I'm sorry I am not on the CC bandwagon. You're right, he is a pretty good pitcher. He also weighs a dime under 300 pounds and pitched seven complete games in about two months at the end of the season. I don't see him not getting hurt.

Even if he doesn't, look at what he did in Cleveland at the beginning of last year. He was a very average pitcher in the much better American League. Also, let's say the Yankees make the playoffs in any of CC's years in the Bronx.

The fact is that CC doesn't pitch well in New York, and that is where you are remembered in New York. He didn't pitch well last year and 2007, when he had 8+ ERA, was about as bad as you can get. Wait, you're right; 8+ ERAs always get people $23 million a year contracts.

I just don't see this deal panning out. I see him breaking down as a pitcher, especially as he weighs in at 290 pounds. I don't think normal knees can take that pounding every five days for 162 games.

The next is the so-called ace A.J. Burnett. He's earning $18.5 million for what scouts say is some of the best stuff in the majors. If you are looking at his stats, there is nothing to say he deserves this contract.

He has made 30 starts only three times in an 11-year career. He had a 4.08 ERA in a contract year last year, and somehow made this money. A 4.08 ERA is not worth the money he is about to earn.

I don't see this man doing much—I actually see him as the next Carl Pavano for the New York Yankees. 

Then there is the latest free-agent signing of Mark Teixeira. I really can't say anything bad about this one. If there is one player the Yankees needed, he was the one. He plays great defense and will be a great compliment to A-Rod in what is probably now the best 1-2 punch in the big leagues.

The Yankees still have other problems, though.

Defense, defense, defense. The Yankees still have absolutely zero of this. Teixeira helps, but he is only one of the nine players, and probably has to cover the smallest ground.

Let's just look at up the middle for this team. Their catcher, Jorge Posada, is coming off of shoulder surgery, and even before that he wasn't anything special as a defensive catcher.

Their middle infield is consisted of the hugely overrated Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano, neither of whom should still be playing in the middle of the infield. Stats show that Jeter is easily the worst SS in the major leagues. He covers absolutely no more than a foot to his right or left. Cano should be playing in the outfield, but the way he played last year it should be in AAA.

Then in center field, the way it looks now, either Nick Swisher or Johnny Damon are playing there. Neither should ever be calling center field their home.

So as it is now, the Yankees still aren't contenders in the AL East in my mind, and are still behind the Red Sox and the Rays.