Why the Rangers’ TV deal matters
By
Earlier this week, rumors out of Arlington set the Internet abuzzing. The Rangers, reported USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, were on the verge of signing a 20-year, $3-billion TV deal that would guarantee them $150 million in annual payments for the rights to their games. With a new ownership group in place and a playoff berth secured, everything has been coming up roses for the former Washington Senators, and that TV deal, towering over the Dodgers’ $45 million intake, would be the highest for any team that doesn’t own its TV station.
When the final details emerged, the dollar figureds were tempered slightly. The deal will be worth closer to $1.5 to $1.6 billion with the Ranger’s annual take set between $75 and $80 million. Fox Sports will throw in an $80-million signing bonus that the Rangers will receive before the 2011 season. Obviously, this influx of cash concerns Yankee fans because of Cliff Lee and Cliff Lee alone.
For the Yankees, Lee is the one who got away this year, and not everyone was too upset by the machinations of the Mariners at the trade deadline. Because the Mariners wanted to wrestle Justin Smoak away from the Rangers and saw him as a better fit for Safeco Field than Jesus Montero will be and because of concerns over the additional prospects included in the deal, Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik sent Lee not to the Yankees in early June but to the Rangers. The Yankees and their fans wanted to have Lee this year to wrap up the AL East and their 28th World Series championship, but they instead were willing to settle for a postseason acquisition.
With this money though, the Rangers could potentially be on footing nearly even with the Yanks when it comes to the dollars. If the Rangers see Lee as a potential cornerstore to a developing rotation and if he propels them through October to the franchise’s first ALCS or even World Series appearance, the Greenberg/Ryan ownership might be willing to part with a few years of TV profits to keep their ace. This TV deal guarantees at the very least that the Rangers will have an additional $60 million in revenue over their previous deal. The club has money to spend, and if two very rich teams want Lee, he will have money showered upon him.
Even with the Rangers’ new-found wealth, money isn’t an obstacle for the Yankees. They’ll have Javier Vazquez‘s contract off the books and owe A-Rod less in 2011 and subsequent seasons than they paid him in 2010. Derek Jeter won’t be making $22.6 million either. Plus, the team has a revenue stream that allows them to up their payroll if need be, and Lee is clearly the club’s off-season priority.
That said, the winter’s decision will likely be a personal one for Lee. Even as the Rangers cakewalked their way to an AL West title, Lee went just 4-6 with a 4.25 ERA in 14 starts. He’s allowed 99 hits in 101.2 innings, and his home run rate more than doubled from 0.4 with the Mariners to 1.0 per 9 innings with the Rangers. His Texas FIP though is still a cool 3.13, but when rumors emerged in August that Lee wasn’t a big fan of Texas, you could almost hear the Yanks’ executives rubbing their hands with glee.
So Yankee fans should beware. With the Rangers’ revenue and success, they are bound to be active players in the free agent market this year, and that market begins with Cliff Lee. Three months ago, I was ready to count my chickens before they hatched, but today, I’ll hold my breath for two months and hope that Lee wants to come to New York as badly as New York wants him.
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The Mason Williams Watch
If Lee signs elsewhere, do the Yanks try to go after King Felix? Montero, Hughes, Nova and Gardner to the M’s?
Don’t take this personally, but that’s a ridiculous trade proposal. You’re opening up so many holes to fill another.
I’m really just asking so I don’t take it personally, but they aren’t holes that are impossible to fill.
The only hole on the roster you’d immediately need to fill is LF in 2011 and sign a better backup catcher.
And a rotation hole. You can’t swap Hughes for Hernandez and still have five starters. Considering the other pieces you’re willing to give up, the upgrade from Hughes to Hernandez isn’t worth it at all.
>the upgrade from Hughes to Hernandez isn’t worth it at all.<
I don't agree with that at all – in reality you'd be looking for a #4/#5 starter to slot behind Felix, CC, Pettitte and unfortunately AJ.
Hughes is a nice pitcher – he's not King Felix – the biggest loss is most likely Montero
But you’re also trading a cost-controlled 4-win left fielder and a potential 5th starter/long reliever in Nova. It would spike the Yanks’ payroll and create holes.
That I definitely understand, there is risk both ways though.
I have no idea what the budget is or how differently the kids want to run the finances of the Franchise – but 4 more years of King Felix at ~ 70 mil will be alot cheaper than Lee and obviously alot younger.
I also think how the Yanks fare in October also may play into how aggressive they go after Lee and any other plan B.
I also would not trade that much to get Felix, Mac1. For comparison, the Yankees hesitated to trade Jesus and Eduardo Nunez for Cliff Lee. The situations are quite different due to both contract and age, but essentially both nets you an ace and you want to give like 3x as much for Felix than the Yankees thought was too much for Lee… You’re talking about 100% ML ready talent, and 75% ready made quality starters. Granted the Ms are not looking to trade Felix, but that’s an amazingly huge package for one player. Imagine Felix injures his shoulder and never pitches again…
Umm no. We made it to the playoffs without Lee this year. We don’t need to gut the system of our young talent to go after Felix.
No, no and no. Felix is 24 years old and outpitching his contract extension by a wide margin. To get him you’d have to give up half the team and all of the farm system. Hughes, Joba, Cano, Gardner, Montero would maybe convince Jack Z to not hang up the phone immediately.
The only deals he’d accept for Felix are ones we shouldn’t offer.
Like that one.
If the offer is Montero and Joba for Felix I’d seriously consider doing it.
Not nearly enough. Not even close.
If you’d be willing to do it, it’s not enough. Montero+Joba is not nearly enough.
If you’d be willing to do it, it’s not enough.
That. There’s generally two kinds of trade proposals that fans propose:
1.) Ones that are so thin, the other team would never take them
2.) Ones that are so heavy, your team should never offer them
They both suck.
Dead on with that analysis.
Ehhh…I dunno, I wouldn’t consider Joba/Montero for Felix to be that thin…obviously it would probably require other parts, but no other serious Grade A trade chips. I’d think that’d be a good starting point for a trade.
If the Mariners were interested in trading Felix it might be… Would have been a good offer for their other ace, Cliff Lee, who they were looking to trade for example. If he were really expensive/gone or they felt like losing the ace for better depth… maybe something could work.
At the same time I don’t really agree with those who say “Hughes, Joba, Cano, Gardner, Montero would maybe convince Jack Z to not hang up the phone immediately.” 2/5 your starting staff, an MVP candidate at 2B, one of the top prospects in baseball, AND a borderline All-Star lead-off man and plus defensive CFer???? As much as I’m sure he LOVES Felix, I do think Jack Z would jump at that offer were it on the table. If you look at WAR, Felix is worth 6 wins. The Yankees would be offering roughly 14.4 WAR plus whatever Montero offers, which may well be around 6 wins in a few years… 6 wins for a very young, major league package that offers maybe 20.4 wins… The Mariners would be crazy not to take that.
Pretty much. There’s no such thing as an “untradeable” player, it just gets to the point where the package it would take would have to be so full of talent, no team would realistically offer it. Felix fits that description perhaps moreso than any other player in baseball.
You realize that the package you offer has a 2010 WAR of 14.4, plus one of the top prospects in baseball? Right? Felix has a 2010 WAR of 6. It would take a lot to get him, but not Hughes, Joba, Cano, Gardner, AND Montero. That’s a frontline starter, a closer or potential top 3 starter, and 3/4 of the top 4 of your order right there…
That is a crazy proposition. He is not worth it. The Yankees already have a solid Ace in CC. Hughes has a good (I don’t know about great)future ahead of him. He pitched great compared to what he was supposed to be (5th starter). I think Pettit is going to pitch one more year. We are stuck with A.J. (who could have a bounceback year andd pitch like 2009). That leaves a 5th starter. Are you seriously going to suggest the Yankees give up the best second baseman in baseball, young talent like Hughes, Montero, and Gardner for a luxary?
The Yankees have money to spend. I would rather them over pay for a player then give up talent.
Lee’s going to be ours. All the aces is as belongs to us!
clearly reply fail.
Are you Kenny Williams?
How’s it like working in Seattle?
Cashman: I’ll give Lee 5/100.
Jon Daniels: I can’t afford that.
Cashman: Checkmate, bitches.
——————
Jon Daniels: Hey, I have money now! I’ll give Lee 5/110.
Cashman: I’ll give him 5/120.
Jon Daniels: I can’t afford that.
Cashman: Checkmate, bitches.
That’s still a shit ton of cash, and we’ve seen the Yankees play it conservatively with money in the past. Cliff Lee is different, but still. I’m a bit nervous. Although the Yankees’ gameplan is typically go big on the big spots and get lazy on the margins.
That.
We’ve gone conservative with money in the past precisely so we can throw metric fucktons of money at the Lees and Sabathias and Teixeiras that we really want.
The last time the Yankees got financially outbid on a free agent they really wanted was… never.
I’m worried about running into a Beltran situation with Clifton.
The Yankees have been conservative with money in the past? Compared to what team? Real Madrid? They are less conservative with money than any other MLB team… If their rotation fails them in the playoffs… they’re getting Cliff Lee or comparable. Even the rotation breaking down down-the-stretch makes it very likely they make big improvements.
Exactly. When have the Yankees been outbid for anyone?
You think some TV deal is gonna change that?
They got outbid for Cliff Lee this season.
it says 60-80 million a year in increase… thats a YEAR so if they wanna jump their payroll to 120 million a year they can.
so John Daniels can offer 5/150 if he really wants to, but at one point you gotta say, is Lee worth that.. his numbers have fallin off 2 years in a row since the big cy young season.
if you wanna offer him 30 million a year, have him.
Meh…Texas has money, I’m sure they’ll attempt to sign Lee, but Lee’s going where the money is. Unless Texas wins the WS I wouldn’t be too concerned, that said I am still nervous he doesn’t sign with the Yanks.
Greenberg and Nolan have said that they want to get the payroll up to $100m over the next 3 years. The biggest problem they have is that Hamilton, Cruz and Wilson are all looking for big raises in arb this year and that have gaping holes to fill this offseason at catcher and 1st.
yeah but with this deal you consider the rangers payroll at 65 this year, with 10 to 15 coming off the books with Harden,Fransisco, and alot of differed payments…
so you have 10 to 15, plus with the contract you throw 50 mill on..
so 60 million a year to add,
CJ – 5-10 a year
Cruz – 7-10 a year
Ham- 10-20 a year
on the top end that is 40
lee will be 20 mill
then you consider Moreland looks like a 1st basemen to me. idk why we dont let him swing against leftys
and as for catching, i dont see bringing back either catch for more than maybe 5 mill.
it just depends on how much of this TV contract they are dumping into the payroll and how much the arb players are looking for.
The new revenue stream is fantastic for the ownership group in Texas but the real difference is that the Yankees are probably the only franchise (including the Red Sox)that prioritizes winning so much relative to profits. Everyone has a budget that’s pretty iron-bound…except the Yankees. I would think that Greenberg & Co. would like to soak up some of those profits before the inevitable downturn diminishes their margin. 5 years from now they could be a non-contender with a very expensive 37 year old former ace and the pressing need to cut payroll. Winning a championship would be worth it for the Steinbrenners but the Rangers’ new owners? I don’t know.
The Yankees can offer Lee more than Texas and not just in terms of money. There’s endorsements, a chance for a WS title literally every year, and his pal CC. Apparently they’re tight from their Cleveland days.
That said, this is Lee’s one shot at free agency. He made decent coin on his extension with the Indians way back when, but this is his chance for generational wealth. This deal will guarantee that his kids and his kids’ kids never have to work.
He’s going to have generational wealth regardless of where he signs. Will it be more in NY and will there be more opportunities o\s his paycheck – sure – but its not like if he wears a Rangers uniform no one will ask him to promote their products.
That said, I also think he’ll be a Yank – the interesting and scary ? is what if he isn’t…
You should have seen his press conference when he got to Texas. It was pretty much saying that he talked to CC and he was excited and thought he was going to NY, then he goes, “whelp I guess I’m here now.” The change of tone made me laugh.
Here’s my reasons why I think the Yankees will bid whatever it takes for Lee:
1) Huge dropoff in pitching talent after Lee in FA market;
2) Another SP is going to be the team’s biggest hole by far, times 10 if Andy hangs it up;
3) Overpaying for a FA is more ideal to the Yanekes than giving up top prospects when they don’t have to;
4) Lack of the need to sign anyone else besides peripheral bench players. IF, OF, C, Bullpen, and 3 starters are set in stone for 2011 already;
5) Cashman has always coveted Lee, I believe he’ll push Hal to spend whatever it takes like he did with Teixiera;
6) If, Mo forbid, the Yankees get bounced in the first round because of poor pitching it will only add fuel to the fire.
1) Huge dropoff in pitching talent after Lee in FA market;
To illustrate just how stark said dropoff is, here is MLBTR’s list of full free agent (no options, club or mutual) starters, age 32 or younger:
Cliff Lee (32)
Jeremy Bonderman (28)
Dave Bush (31)
Kevin Correia (30)
Jorge de la Rosa (30)
Sergio Mitre (30)
Brandon Webb (32)
Todd Wellemeyer (32)
Dontrelle Willis (29)
Even including 33 year olds just adds Westbrook, Penny, Nate Robertson, and Padilla. Carl Pavano and Andy Pettitte are probably the best non-Lee talents.
There is one person that you have left off this list as a potential free agent starter under the age of 32 – Yu Darvish. The decision to post Darvish is a significant one, and if he is indeed posted, as has been the rumor, I wonder if the Yankees seriously consider going in that direction rather than with a guy who will be 33 at the start of his next contract. It is likely to cost the Yankees less to pay the posting fee and sign Darvish than it will to sign Lee.
“It is likely to cost the Yankees less to pay the posting fee and sign Darvish than it will to sign Lee.”
It should cost less, because Darvish has absolutely no ML track record. Lee IS one of the best pitchers in MLB, Darvish MIGHT BE one of the best… big difference. There’s a reason Jesus Montero will make less money next season than Albert Pujols… Still, Yankees might just sure up their rotation 100% by bringing in both Lee and Darvish (if he’s available)… With the dearth of pitching talent and likely bidding wars for each, though, my guess is the Yankees overpay for the proven lefty before the unproven righty.
3) Overpaying for a FA is more ideal to the Yankees than giving up top prospects when they don’t have to;
Restated for emphasis. Adding on an extra year or two and an extra 20M or 30M is ALWAYS a much better strategic use of our resources than trading away valuable (and cheap) prospects that can be used internally (or traded for pieces that won’t hit the market anytime soon).
Overpaying in dollars/years >>>>>>>>>> dealing away good young talent
That said, the winter’s decision will likely be a personal one for Lee. Even as the Rangers cakewalked their way to an AL West title, Lee went just 4-6 with a 4.25 ERA in 14 starts. He’s allowed 99 hits in 101.2 innings, and his home run rate more than doubled from 0.4 with the Mariners to 1.0 per 9 innings with the Rangers. His Texas FIP though is still a cool 3.13, but when rumors emerged in August that Lee wasn’t a big fan of Texas, you could almost hear the Yanks’ executives rubbing their hands with glee.
I think the effects of being burned by the Burnett deal and bummed about the Pavano deal make me very hesitant to hop on the Cliff Lee bandwagon. His injury history scares me, IIRC within 3-4 weeks of his joining the Rangers, Nolan Ryan accused Lee of hiding an injury. This one was different from the rib injury he suffered at Seattle.
Are the days of offering mad money to 30+ pitchers, with an injury history and half a season of inconsistent performance in the mild-mild-west, over? I hope Cash$$ doesnt get suckered into another big money deal. This one can get real ugly real fast. Hope the Yanks decision makers investigate every last injury report on him, he sure has a truck full of them.
Cliff Lee ≠ A.J. Burnett ≠ Carl Pavano
Let the Rangers have Lee as I would rather see Joba back in the rotation anyway. If Pettitte retires Kuroda would make a nice free agent signing on a 2 year deal.
I would love to see Joba back in the rotation.
I would cut off Joba’s right arm if it means getting Cliff Lee though.
That’s pretty funny. Morbid. But funny.
Better solution:
I would cut off both of Pat Venditte’s arms to put both Cliff Lee and Joba Chamberlain in our rotation, side by side.
You’re welcome.
Well that makes one of us.
I just hope Cowherd was right.
#thingsIneverthoughtI’dhear
I honestly got the impression Cliff liked playing in front of the NY crowd, even as a Phillie.The fact that he has made zero overtures about wanting to stay in Texas or Seattle at the time tell me he really wants to come to NY. He knows we want him and we can offer whatever money he wants as well as the opportunity to pitch deep into the postseason every year in a park tailor made for LHP. Cliff and NY are a match made in heaven.
I agree with this, and I’m guessing the Yankees will get right of first refusal, so even if the Rangers are willing to step way up, I’m sure the Yankees will get the chance to match (and sweeten the pot) to get it done.
We’ll throw in all the River Ave. Hookers you can shake a stick at.
I wonder if the Rays 2011 payroll cut will temper the Yankees’ spending this offseason in any way. Taking 20 mill away from the Rays probably means that the Yankees have a postseason berth locked up for the next few years.
It probably won’t, just an idea I’ve been kicking around recently.
Cashman clearly covets Cliff (how’s that for alliteration?). Not only is he tight with CC, but he and AJ share the same agent, and are both from Little Rock. I’m pretty sure they’ve known each other awhile.
The way he handled the WS last year, makes me think he relishes the spotlight, and if that’s the case, NY makes much more sense than Texas.
Cashman clearly covets Cliff (how’s that for alliteration?)
‘At’s awesome alliteration!
Asshole!
Lee sounded pretty happy when he thought he was getting traded here and fairly disappointed when it turned out to be Texas. I have no doubts about where he ends up.
The Rangers have a ridiculous low payroll right now.
If they pay for Lee, next up:
Josh Hamilton
Nelson Cruz
CJ Wilson
They will be up at 100+ mil easily
I am sure they are hoping to win it this year and Lee will take a slight discount, which I doubt he would do.
Wilson is a free agent after next season, Hamilton the year after that, Cruz the year after that.
I think the market for Hamilton won’t be as huge as you think. He has done way too much to his body for me to feel confident that he will stay healthy for a huge deal.
I would rather the Yankees not break the bank for a 32-year old pitcher. I know I’m in the minority when I type this, but whatevs. Let Cliff Lee pitch in that Coors Southwest oven.
If the Yankees are going to spend big, spend it on Yu know who.
The money would almost certainly be less with Darvish. Especially considering the posting fee doesn’t count towards the luxury tax, and you can hold his contract for ransom after you win the posting.
Ugh. Proven vs. unproven, and proven >>> unproven.
Frankly I find it impossible to imagine any pausible scenario under which we would not outbid and pay whatever necessary in $ and years to secure Lee.
*plausible
Spelling FAIL
I can see where you are coming from but disagree.
Yu have no idea what yu are getting with Darvish. Yu know what Lee can and has done. The Yankees are trying to win every year, Darvish may help them in that goal, Lee will.
I’m just not a big fan of Cliff Lee, especially a Cliff Lee who has signed his last contract. He seems like a crybaby to me. Also, historically speaking, the best of Cliff Lee has been realized. He’s not going to get any better, he will only decline. Let Texas pay for his decline.
A crybaby? Not in the Jason Varitek sense of things, right?
You know, I was just thinking of suggesting adjusting the color scheme a bit because it’s hard to tell the difference between normal text and the blue text for a link. I refresh, and suddenly it’s different.
It’s been bugging me for a while, and I forgot to change some code when we upgraded the theme a few months ago.
I refresh, and suddenly it’s different.
You think it, RAB does it.
#bencanreadyourthoughts
Those comments are hilarious.
” Varitek is one of the best backstops in the game…he comes back next year, solidifies the team, teaches Salty everything he knows.
Mark my words…Sox will return to Glroy next year…5 aces with Lester, Buch, Lackey, Beckett and Dice K!
Bard is the closer…bank on it! ”
Sorry to go off-topic. Couldn’t help it.
Hey, 1 out of 3 isn’t bad.
Theoretically, Lee is the type of pitcher who should age well since he doesn’t rely on an overpowering fastball to get people out. Bad stretch in Texas aside, he’s still one of the best control arms the league has seen in a long time. If he misses spots he’ll get lit up, but that’s true for any pitcher.
Lee will be with us. Dinero to Montero. The perfect catcher for Cliff Lee. Any concerns with Montero’s defense are gone with a pitcher like Lee. Lefty with pinpoint control. Cervelli/AJ Lee/Jesus and split the other pitchers with a rotation of all 3 catchers next year.
I believe Cliff Lee is the best option for the Yankees to improve their biggest problem – starting pitching. However, I was surprised that baseball-reference lists his similarity score (through 30) to Denny Neagle. And I’ll bet Cliff Lee can’t even do the train whistle.
Lee had a bunch of crappy years initially that drags his ratings down.
He’s not that pitcher anymore.
Similarity scores are only useful for people who have similar career arcs. Guys like Lee with wacky ones don’t really compare well.
Mark Cuban’s entry into the bidding process for the team appeared to cause the Ryan group to pay more than they had intended – I think the final price was something like $150M more than what their initial agreement was for.
I wonder how much of this extra revenue gets eaten up because of the extra debt they’re taking on to buy the team.
Cuban played it off that his presence chased away all other bidders, thus he aided them.
The value of the CC Sabathia signing in 2008 is two fold if he lures Cliff Lee to the Yankees this winter.
Reportedly, when it looked like Lee was heading to NY, Lee’s wife called CC’s wife to get advice on where to live. It would seem that she’d be on board with a move to New York as well. Which, you know… never underestimate the importance of the wife in these kinds of decisions!
Just ask Mark Teixeira.
I asked Mark, he said to go ask Leigh.
/whipped
I hope Lee is whipped
Considering Leigh Teixeira was all for going to the Yankees, I’m very glad Mark had the good sense to ask his wife to help him make this decision.
If only LeBron had a wife…
LeBron has a husband. His name is Dwyane Wade.
http://www.instantrimshot.com
———————
In a different vein, Carmelo Anthony has a wife. She’s also from New York.
(licks chops)
Yeah but I hear she thinks Jersey is nice this time of year, with a side of Brooklyn down the road…
Let’s also remember that Texas has no state income tax while New York combined with that high city tax could cost Lee 10% or more per year on his 20+M contract per season with the Yankees. That’s a lot of money to be save per season in Texas.
state taxes are overrated to the players in my opinion. As a matter of fact, i read some artice a year or two back that said that the players want to go to where they feel comfortable. Can you even name the last person who said they didnt want to go to the yankees because of tax considerations?? that would be kind of borderline idiotic
Oh and the tax situation is much different than you think for professional athletes. For example, in my tax class, we covered the NFL. In the NFL, you are taxed in your home state for 8 games, and the 8 road games you pay the tax for the state that road game was played in. So if you are a steeler, you pay PA taxes for 8 games, then if you play the NY Jets, you pay NJ taxes for that game.
On a 5yr/100M contract (for an easy reference point), if you take half of his contract (50M) and tax it at NYS rates (7.85% for over 200k in income), that’s only 3.925M in state tax payments over the life of the contract.
It’s less than a million a year.
Yup. The tax situation is really more of a tiebreaker in the decision making process than anything else. If you’re got two similar offers and no real preference between them, the taxes might help you make your decision. Otherwise, its a non-issue.
Pretty sure the Rangers (1) aren’t being broadcast for free right now, (2) are “losing” a shit-ton of money every season, and (3) have mad debt, yo.
For a ML team with one of the largest revenue markets, Texas wasn’t getting a lot of money per year with their television contract. This new contract increases their revenue by a big margin and there might be some additional opportunities to increase revenue even moreso.
I’d Love Mr Lee, But he’s not getting more then CC and he’s not getting 7 years. 5 years 100 million that pays him 30m 25m 18m 10m 7m
Front loaded so if his back goes out someone will be willing to take a change on him in years 3 4 and 5
Other then that Bid him up and drop him in the rangers lap at 7 years 140m
besides I believe Carl Pavano would be my 2nd choice Rolling my Eye’s
Lee is special, but Special goes out the door if his back isn’t sound. Lets see how he throws in the playoffs before we give him the key to the city
5 years 100 million that pays him 30m 25m 18m 10m 7m
Front loaded so if his back goes out someone will be willing to take a change on him in years 3 4 and 5
That was funny. I laughed. Well done, Sal.
The back appears to be a muscular issue and is not disc related.
I hope Lee signs with Texas. I can’t wait until the Yanks have a staff of pitchers groomed in the farm system.
If it takes a year or two so be it. They don’t have to win it all every year.
(thinks)
No.
Did the color scheme just change for anyone else? The blue hyperlinks looks brighter.
Yes–I like it. It was impossible to tell when text was a hyperlink, especially against the blue background of every other reply.
RAB codemonkeys work in mysterious ways. URLs and linked phrases in the comments will now appear so that people can actually see them.
I like this combo the best. Hyperlinks are bright, but the name and timestamp hyperlinks are muted.
Well done, Kabak. I take back some of those awful things I said about you.
Can Anyone else taste purple??
i can!
I have it on good authority that Cliff Lee hates Texas and has been virtually tanking it ever since he got there.
He wants to be a Yankee!
/Colin Cowherd’d
NY would be a more stable place for lee if he wants to win every year. the Rangers have a good club now, but many of their players are going to leave for FA come 2011. Hamilton is still almost never healthy and texas’ younger players are heading to arbitration which means a bit less money to allocate into lee. Plus we have the CC factor and the fact our GM has a huge man crush on the guy.
If Lee is a Yankee next year, fine.
If Lee is a Ranger next year, fine.
Just don’t have him in Boston, or any AL East team for that matter.
The numbers are of course incredible on him, but personally I would pass if a real bidding war broke out. I have nothing to substantiate my belief, but I think he will be a fast decliner, like Santana…
There is going to be a major financial shitstorm hitting baseball and all professional sports in the coming years. We’re not seeing much of it yet, but it’s going to happen. Although the strongest – like the Yankees – should be among the last standing, this huge revenue stream we’ve gotten accustomed to is no guaranteed thing, and it’s almost definitely going to take a huge hit in coming years. I think laying low and saving money might prove to be a wise move for the lean years ahead.
I really don’t think Santana is a fast decliner. The injuries have set him back, obviously, but when healthy he’s been getting the job done.
I’ll ignore the rest of your unsubstantiated comments.
OK fine then I’ll ignore you. *sticks out tongue*
“financial shitstorm hitting baseball”
Interesting – what makes you think so?
Obama’s Death Panels?
It’s the Sharia Law that’ll do it.
Oh knock it off. Well, I suppose Aunt Zeituni might have some role in the meltdown.
We’ve had decade or more of very lucrative, mostly escalating contract values, paid for, essentially, by huge revenues from corporate America. Whether it’s advertising on YES, or luxury boxes, or corporations paying for stadium names, etc., it’s insane to think that any MLB team is surviving on ticket and concession revenue. Well maybe Pittsburgh.
Things don’t look great for corporate America right now. Eventually, shrinkage in advertising budgets and so forth is going to put a big hit on professional sports.
Actually things look freakin SPECTACULAR for corporate America right now. “It” is sitting on a $2 Trillion cash hoard (yes, Trillion with a T), is leaner and better leveraged from a fix-cost basis than it’s been in a generation, faces preposterously low capital costs,, and is poised to continue to reap outsized bounty as the world economy continues to recover in the coming months.
Rangers are a horrible road team…..they won’t make it past the ALDS
Well hopefully it’s not a sure fact that Cliff Lee is a Yankee next year.
Clarifying I mean hopefully it’s not a sure fact around here that Cliff Lee is an automatic Yankee.
Of course it’s not an automatic; Cliff Lee is a FA, he could choose to take less money to play elsewhere if his heart was set on some other team.
I’ll call it an “overwhelming probability”, though. We’re not the odds-on-favorite, we’re the odds-on-superfavorite.
We really need to sign Lee. There’s no one else really this year and next year’s Free agent class for starting pitchers stinks too.
Here’s a list of starting pitchers that are eligible to become free agents after the 2011 season. The age that they’ll be at the end of next season is listed as well (from mlbtraderumors.com).
Mark Buehrle (33)
Chris Carpenter (37) – $15MM club option with a $1MM buyout. If he’s good next year the cards pick it up. If he’s not, or gets hurt you won’t want him anyway.
Aaron Cook (33) – $11MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Kyle Davies (28)
Ryan Dempster (35) – $14MM player option
Zach Duke (29)
Jeff Francis (30)
Livan Hernandez (37)
Edwin Jackson (28)
Kenshin Kawakami (37)
Scott Kazmir (28) – $13.5MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Paul Maholm (30) – $9.75MM club option with a $750K buyout
John Maine (31)
Jason Marquis (33)
Brandon McCarthy (28)
Gil Meche (33)
Sergio Mitre (31)
Scott Olsen (28)
Roy Oswalt (34) – $16MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Oliver Perez (30)
Joel Pineiro (33)
Wandy Rodriguez (33)
C.C. Sabathia (31) – may opt out of remaining four years, $92MM
Carlos Silva (33) – $12MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Ian Snell (30) – $9.25MM club option
Brian Tallet (34)
Adam Wainwright (30) – $9MM club option for 2012, $12MM club option for ’13 . No way cards don’t pick this up unless again he gets hurt.
Tim Wakefield (45)
Chien-Ming Wang (32)
C.J. Wilson (31)
As you can see there’s just not much here.
with Pettite’s age and possible retirement, that leaves us with only CC and hughes as starters not named burnett for 2012.
If CC has an effective season next year, $1000 says he opts out or renegotiates his contract before doing so.
My favorite part about this: Livan Hernandez (37).
Yea, suuuuuuure he’s 37.
Which reminds me. What’s CMW been up to?
Wang didn’t do much of anything this season except build strength. Reportedly, he’s facing live batters during instructional league play but has yet to pitch in an actual game. He also cashed checks totaling $2 million for six months. I highly doubt he’ll be an effective, front-line Major League starter any time soon if ever again.
I think oswalt will still be a good signing after next year and i don’t see him accepting his option.
I REALLY wish we got him THIS year!
I have confidence in 6’3″ control artist Cliff Lee pitching effectively into his mid-to-late 30s.
5’11″, power pitching Roy Oswalt? No.
Stature-o-phobic commentary.
As much as i’d like to imagine a 2012 rotation sporting two of Brax, Betances, & Banuelos, the ascendance of the Rays staff demands that the Yank add another certified ace. Cmon down, Mr. Lee. I hope we’ll see Brax full time by 2012, anyway.
The Texas-SW Fox TV deal does pretty much guarantee the Rangers sufficient monies to keep Hamilton and hold the younger intact. The Angels should be scared.
2012 is probably too soon for them anyway.
2013-2014 is more realistic for guys like Banuelos and Betances. They’re going to have to work their way up into the rotation like Joba (who should be considered for a rotation spot after Pettitte retires and/or A.J. Burnett has an “unfortunate construction-worksite accident”.)
Ha!
I say we sign Lee and trade Nova, Noesi and any one player in the system not named Montero to the Royals for greinke. He’s starting to become expensive (i think 13 Mil for 2011).
I have my concerns with Greinke (soft mentally and right handed, extreme fly ball pitcher) but still think he’d be successful in pinstripes
Next years rotation:
CC
LEE
GREINKE
MR PETTITE
HUGHES
NICE!
They should trade for Lincecum and Josh Johnson, too!!!
I say we sign Lee and trade Nova, Noesi and any one player in the system not named Montero to the Royals for greinke.
Your trade proposal sucks.
Also because Greinke just won’t play in NY.
And, yea, that’s a ridiculous proposal. Even Dayton Moore hangs up instantly on that one.
Tommie,
Of course value for value it makes no sense whatsoever. but if KC trades him it’ll be because they will be cutting down their payroll.
As is the case with SOOOOO many trades in which a team is shedding payroll, KC will most likely get MUCH less talent back than greinke’s.
some examples?
Johan to the mets.
Oswalt to the phillies.
Halladay to the phillies.
victor martinez to boston.
i could go on and on..
Texas = 0 State income tax.
If they offer the same or near the same money, Brother Cliff Stays put.