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**Imran Siddiqui** · December 22, 2008, 16:10

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081222&content_id=3725439&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

It seems the Yankees are prepared to offer a 3 year deal (for a rumored $75 mil) to Manny Ramirez. Though Manny has said, he's not going to really start going through offers until Teixiera, who is also represented by Scott Boras gets done.

**snoopy369** · December 22, 2008, 20:04

So they'll give over $20m per to Teixera and over $25m per to Manny??? Here comes the new Steinbrenner, same as the old...

... and then the Rays still win the AL East, I predict

**Ming** · December 22, 2008, 20:15

The NFL with their salary cap is great... teams can turn it around year to year as proved by Miami and Atlanta. It's not rare for these kind of changes. Yet good teams can still do good as seen by Indy, NE, NYG and Pitt.

Baseball's "salary tax" is a joke. And yes, I do hope the Rays win the East next year

**Imran Siddiqui** · December 23, 2008, 01:11

Originally posted by snoopy369
So they'll give over $20m per to Teixera and over $25m per to Manny??? Here comes the new Steinbrenner, same as the old...

A) I think if the sign Manny, this signals that they too, are done with Tex's games, as were Boston and Anaheim (also they haven't really been mentioned with the major players lately)

B) Due to Giambi and Mussina and others coming off the books, the Yankees actually had A TON of money to spend. I think they shed something like $80 mil in annual salary after the 2008 season was over, allowing them to go after Sabathia, Burnett, and a big bat without going into $300 mil land.

**-Jrabbit** · December 23, 2008, 01:27

So the Yankees shed roughly 2X the annual team salary of the 2008 Rays?

I can only

at the silliness that is MLB.

**Imran Siddiqui** · December 23, 2008, 01:30

Don't necessarily see it as a silliness. It's market forces at work. If Tampa can get its new stadium and make some cash, it'll soon have over a $100 mil payroll itself with the young talent it is stockpiling.

Can baseball do more to help the small market teams? Sure, but New York City loves its baseball and is willing to pay top dollar for it. I like having one league out there that will allow those teams to benefit from that level of support.

**Imran Siddiqui** · December 23, 2008, 17:38

And the Teixiera sweepstakes is won byyyyy..... the New York Yankees:

Sources: 'Tex' takes Yanks' 8-year deal

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3790141

Mark Teixeira has reached agreement with the Yankees on an eight-year contract worth $180 million, three sources involved in the negotiations tells ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

who now have the four highest paid players in baseball, signing two this offseason, and yet may have a payroll that's $22 million LESS than last year's.

Yankees looking SCARY good right now.

**reismark** · December 23, 2008, 19:34

I think I'm gonna wet my pants.

**Imran Siddiqui** · December 23, 2008, 19:46

Oh, right, you are a Yankees fan. I knew there was a reason you were so unlikable

.

**Tuberski** · December 23, 2008, 23:36

Yankees overspend on another free agent.

ACK!

**Imran Siddiqui** · January 1, 2009, 19:01

MLB Network comes up... in 1 minute. Looks to be fairly interesting in programming and games throughout the year (where it is better suited than the NFL Network was... and I think the MLB Network is taking games that are already aired instead of being the only broadcaster for those games).

Also on regular tiers... that's what happens when you make the networks a minority shareholder

.

**Imran Siddiqui** · January 1, 2009, 19:01

Double post...

But the channel looks ok. I just wish Harold Reynolds and Barry Larkin would let Al Leiter talk more. And hoping for more statistical analysis in the future. Though the discussion about contracts and which player may be going where was good.

**Imran Siddiqui** · January 4, 2009, 14:37

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090102&content_id=3731709&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

Dodgers have agreed to cut or trade Andrew Jones if he'll forgo a good deal of his salary. Guess like that signing didn't work out so well

Also this is seen as a prelude to the Dodgers going hard after Manny.

**Imran Siddiqui** · January 5, 2009, 20:44

Rays sign Burrell for 2 years

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3811501

Burrell has agreed in principle to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Rays, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Monday. The deal is pending a physical.

The Rays get a STEAL by signing Pat Burrell to a 2 year deal for $16 million. For less than the Phils signed Ibanez as well.

And it seems like the A's are close to signing Jason Giambi again. With Giambi and Holliday, they could make a run.

**Imran Siddiqui** · January 5, 2009, 20:47

Seems the Cubbies have signed Milton Bradley as well for 3 years, $30 Mil

Sources: Cubs, Bradley agree to deal

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3811744

The Cubs have agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley, sources told ESPN.

Lots of news today, it also appears Carl Pohlad kicked the bucket:

Twins owner Pohlad, 93, dies

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3812007

A baseball official says Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad has died at age 93.

Any chance the Twinkies start spending more?

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