Those Damn Yankees: Will Anyone Ever Compete With Them?

Well, they have done it yet again.

The Yankees overspending for players has become a quite trend over the years. I believe this year alone they have gone a little too far.

With just three players signed this off season, Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixiera alone have accumulated a budget worth close to a half a billion dollars. I know what some of you are saying, they have the money they should spend however they want.

Yes, that is understandable, but to give two players over $150 million, neither of whom have proved their worth in the postseason is absurd. Yes, I know the playoff appearances combined for both are less than the fingers on our hands.

While the other has had an injury plagued career, with his best season coming in a year he could opt out half way through his deal to make more money.

Could you possibly imagine next year when Matt Holliday becomes a free agent and the Yankees will possibly need a new left fielder?

They could move Nady to his better position, right field. Johnny Damon's contract will expire and there is no chance they'll resign him. Which will add to the money they still have left to spend from this off season. I know I may be getting ahead of myself, but the possibility is there.

My point is athletes in any sport shouldn't make eight figures a year.

The Yankees are continuing to allow this to become a horrible pattern. Some baseball owners around the league are understandably infuriated. While others are fine with the fact that the Yankees have the money and they should spend. That's fine, I just ask those owners how do you want your team to compete against that giant?

This brings up another issue. That is the "small market teams", how will they compete?  I know the Tampa Bay Rays had an amazing run and have great young talent. But, they'll have to continue drafting and developing players, and signing free agents for cheap costs.

All the while teams such as the Royals and Pirates are drowning. They have to continue to rebuild year after year. It would be easier for them if they could have that money, but they don't.

This may be a crazy thing to suggest, but how about a salary cap. People around the league say it isn't possible.

I say look at the NHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks would not be competing right now with the Red Wings and Rangers, if not for a cap. Both, the Penguins and Blackhawks were left for dead just a mere four years ago. Now, Pittsburgh is recently removed from a trip to the Stanley Cup finals, while the Hawks are the most exciting team in the league.

It's ridiculous to look at the salary caps in the MLB. To see the Yankees with a $200 million pay roll, where the Rays, who did win the AL East this past season, with just $46 million is unbelievable.

The wide variety is appalling. If MLB wanted to increase an already high attendance total you'd think they would make a salary cap happen to even the paying field. This way seats aren't empty around ballparks of teams who can't compete.

I'm sorry to the higher-ups in baseball, but not every fan is pulling for their team win or lose, like Chicago or Boston.

All I ask as a fan of a small market team is to level the paying field. Baseball would be a better game if team's didn't have triple digit payrolls. This wish may never happen, but hey one can only hope the chance for equal competition can happen.