Once again, the Yankees and Red Sox have money to burn while the Jays sit on the sidelines.
Whether you love or hate the New York Yankees - the latter seems to be the case unless you live in New York State - you have to give them props for the way they go about their business.
After missing the playoffs for the first time since Bill Clinton was doing his thing in Washington, the Yankees know that with the vast monies they will receive from corporations and fans as they move into their new digs across the street from the 'House That Ruth Built' they can pretty well go out and get whoever they want. This includes raising the payroll into uncharted territory, paying whatever luxury taxes that will be laid at their feet, and still pulling a profit. You can't be begrudge the fact that they are awash in money, are willing to spend, and don't have to answer the shareholders during these tenuous financial times.
By signing CC Sabathia to the richest contract for a pitcher in baseball history and putting the full court press on A.J. Burnett by offering a guaranteed five-year contract for a reported $85 million, they are also hoping to land a third free agent pitcher in Derek Lowe or Ben Sheets, and are hoping to entice Andy Pettitte to return at a discount. With incumbents Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees will have a ferocious rotation next season.
So what will the Red Sox Nation demand of their team to counter the spending spree by the 'Evil Empire'? First of all, look for Theo Epstein to make a big play for Mark Teixeira, the most coveted hitter on the free agent market. This is a move that would force Kevin Youkilis across the diamond to third and the dealing away of 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell, once his health issues are resolved. They are also in need of a catcher now that Jason Varitek has refused salary arbitration, but their dearth of prospects will allow them to deal to fill that hole. Outside of those moves, they still have more than enough to battle the Yankees no matter how much payroll they add.
The darling of these meetings has been New York's other team - the Mets. After a disappointing 2008, hi-jacked by a terrible bullpen, G.M. Omar Minaya rebuilt his relief corps by signing the top closer Francisco 'K-Rod' Rodriguez at a slight discount and then trading for J.J. Putz and Sean Green from the Mariners to fill the set-up and middle relief holes.
All this leaves me kind of envious. Remember when it was the Blue Jays who used to makes these types of moves and Jays fans always looked forward to the Winter Meetings? Now, all we get is a bowl full of 'Oh, woe is me'.
THE VOICE OF REASON
Blue Jays' manager Cito Gaston arrived at the winter meetings on Tuesday and was very candid when assessing his teams' chances in 2009. With A.J. Burnett gone, gone, gone Gaston feels that the team will be better off without him. Now, before you go wonder what he's been smoking, his logic is solid and with reason. With the holes in the rotation due injuries, the Jays, quite frankly, have no shot at contending next season and, probably, the year after that. Having Burnett return, at a hefty raise, would only hog-tie their mid-range payroll even more, and with the lack of wiggle room created by the long-term deals with Alex Rios and Vernon Wells, along with the current deals to under-achievers Lyle Overbay and Scott Rolen, now is not the time to be adding significant payroll, unless trades are on the table to jettison a boat load of money.
That doesn't help J.P. Ricciardi's lot in life, but after he cleaned up Gord Ash's payroll mistakes when he first took over, the Jays have painted themselves back into the corner and cannot add without subtracting. At least Gaston is willing to tell it the way it is, and isn't giving off the impression that the Jays will be anything but a second division team in 2009. And it will give them the chance to get long looks at whether their prospects are bonafide Major Leaguers. That may not sit well with you Jays fans, but we are, unfortunately, in the midst of the perfect storm. The drop in Canadian dollar, coupled with a poorly managed payroll, the passing of Ted Rogers and the fact that Rogers Communications is laying off people, means that this is a bad time to go to ownership with hat in hand.
Plus if anyone should get the vast millions that were earmarked for Burnett it's Roy Halladay, who's put together a brilliant career, not just one season.
