A look at our 2008 salaries

[nykgeneralmanager]

With a pretty good amount of money coming off the book thanks to Clemens, ARod, and possible Pettitte, the Yankees can do a lot with extra money. Here is what is guaranteed for next season:

Jason Giambi - $21 million
Derek Jeter - $20 million
Bobby Abreu - $16 million
Johnny Damon - $13 million
Hideki Matsui - $13 million
Mike Mussina - $11 million
Carl Pavano - $11 million
Kyle Farnsworth - $5.5 million
Kei Igawa - $4 million

The rest are less than $1 million due to their rookie contracts
The total as of now is roughly $125 million, not counting Posada, Rivera, and Pettitte who if they all return should combine for roughly $45 million, to bring the total to $170 million or so.

Giambi, Abreu, Mussina, Pavano, and Farnsworth are all coming off the book after 2008, another $65 million.

We have a lot of financial flexibility in the near future, and with the way Cashman has been running the show of late, this team can be replenished quickly and be right back on top.

[Pharmcat]

the problem is there is no good FA this offseason to break the bank on (other than chokerod)

then next year if we get some of those top FA, then we lose picks (which i dont want to do since our scouting is on fire these days)


therefore, i think trades and internal development is the way to go

[cmaff051]

You need to factor in arbitration money for Cano and Wang going forward.... they are due for big paydays soon.

[Da Schwab]

With a pretty good amount of money coming off the book thanks to Clemens, ARod, and possible Pettitte, the Yankees can do a lot with extra money. Here is what is guaranteed for next season:

Jason Giambi - $21 million
Derek Jeter - $20 million
Bobby Abreu - $16 million
Johnny Damon - $13 million
Hideki Matsui - $13 million
Mike Mussina - $11 million
Carl Pavano - $11 million
Kyle Farnsworth - $5.5 million
Kei Igawa - $4 million

The rest are less than $1 million due to their rookie contracts
The total as of now is roughly $125 million, not counting Posada, Rivera, and Pettitte who if they all return should combine for roughly $45 million, to bring the total to $170 million or so.

Giambi, Abreu, Mussina, Pavano, and Farnsworth are all coming off the book after 2008, another $65 million.

We have a lot of financial flexibility in the near future, and with the way Cashman has been running the show of late, this team can be replenished quickly and be right back on top.

With all that said, it looks like the entire '08 offseason will be like Christmas day for Yankees fans.

I'm lovin it.

[nykgeneralmanager]

the problem is there is no good FA this offseason to break the bank on (other than chokerod)

then next year if we get some of those top FA, then we lose picks (which i dont want to do since our scouting is on fire these days)


therefore, i think trades and internal development is the way to go

The money isn't even about free agency. Just being financially efficient and flexible is more important than simply being rich. We've been the richest for a while and have no titles to show for it. Three of the four teams that reached the LCS this season were in the BOTTOM 10 of payrolls simply because they are efficient with their money. Recently, we've been much more efficient but we won't be able to reap the rewards until the next year or two, when our great prospects begin to make a REAL impact. Aside from that, we can be more flexible. For instance, instead of having to trade Kennedy and Eric Duncan for Tejada, we may be able to move second tier prospects like Clippard, Marquez, and Duncan plus cash for Tejada (just an example, don't say it is realistic or unrealistic). We are in better position with a lower payroll, regardless whether or not there are free agents to spend that extra money on.