Yankees Acquire Javy Vazquez

The Yankees are the rich getting richer, and re-acquired solid #2 starter Javy Vazquez from the Braves for Melky Cabrera. New York also got left-hander Boone Logan as part of the trade, and the Braves obtained a pair of pitching prospects, left-hander Mike Dunn and right-hander Arodys Vizcaino, along with about $500,000.

The Yankees' payroll for next year now tops $200 million, which is more than the #2 Los Angeles Angels were purchased for a few years ago.

Phillies, Blue Jays Looking at Plan B re Halladay

Both the Phillies and the Blue Jays are looking at their other options vis a vis Roy Halladay, according to many reports. Although it woul benefit both teamms to do a deal, apparently the Phillies have determined that the asking price is too much. In response, the Phillies are eyeing a deal for Cliff Lee of the Indians, and the Blue Jays may be in talks with the Yankees...stay tuned...Friday is the trading deadline...

Bobby Abreu To Sign with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Bobby Abreu, the former New York Yankees' right fielder that was not offered arbitration, is going to sign a deal with the Los Angeles Angels for a reported $5 million plus incentives for one year. This appears to be a pretty good move for the Angels, who lost Mark Teixeira to free agency this year and needs to replace that production in the lineup. Abreu batted .296 with over 100 RBI last year and is a left handed bat in a very right handed Angels clubhouse. The deal was reported on SI.com and MLB.com.

But Abreu signing for $5 million has to lower the targets of other free agents on the market, the ones that still do not have a team with pitchers and catchers reporting just around the corner.

Alex Rodriguez Admits A-Rod is A-Fraud

In an interview with ESPN, it is being reported that Alex Rodriguez admitted that while he was with the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003 he did steroids, including the season where he won the MVP and including the time right after he got his super large contract.

An article on the admission is here.

Seems to me that the only person in baseball we can trust about steroids is Jose Canseco.

Andy Pettitte Takes Yankees Deal

The Yankees and Andy Pettitte agreed on an incentive laced deal that is worth roughly $5.5 million guaranteed, much lower than the $16 million earned last year by the left handed starter. The incentives are reportedly enough for Pettitte to reach $12 million. It is unknown where Pettitte will be in the rotation, but it is speculated he will start the season as the #5 so as to make the first start in the new Yankees stadium.

Jason Giambi to Sign with Oakland Athletics

The A's reunion with Jason Giambi is merely a physical away from completion, according to MLB.com. The deal for the (ahem) 1B and more likely DH is reportedly a guaranteed one year deal worth $3.5 million with a club option for 2010 for $5 million with a $1 million buyout. This is probably a win win...the A's basically get a decent bat in the lineup for relatively cheap $3.5 million, and Giambi goes back to a team before that whole steroids thing made Giambi a bad name. Giambi, of course, was not offered arbitration by the New York Yankees (which freed up some necessary payroll), and hit .247 with 32 HR's last year after an injury plagued 2007. This offer from the A's is just a little less than the $23 million he made last year.

Carl Pavano to sign with the Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a one year, incentive laden contract with the much injured former New York Yankee Carl Pavano. If anyone thinks that the New York Yankees are guaranteed to win the Series, one need only look at how much the Yankees paid for Pavano. Pavano was paid $40 million over four years with the Yanks and made a total of 26 starts in those four years, 7 last year, or almost $1 million a strikeout. The Indians deal is reported to be $1.5 million guaranteed with incentives that could bring the deal to $6.8 million.

Andy Pettitte Rejects New York Yankees' Offer

The New York Times is reporting that Andy Pettitte rejected the one year, $10 million offer to pitch in pinstripes again next year in the new Yankee Stadium. Pettitte made $16 million last year, so the pay cut would be substantial, and apparently too substantial for Pettitte and his agents. Pettitte had originally indicated that he would pitch for the Yankees or retire, but he wanted to return. The Yankees are in a position where they'd like to have him, but now after their free agent signings, don't really need him. I'm betting this deal gets done eventually.

Pat Burrell Takes Pay Cut, Signs with Tampa Bay Rays

Pat Burrell, who made nearly $14 million last year (but was not offered arbitration by the Philadelphia Phillies), took a pretty massive pay cut by signing a two year, $16 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. It had been expected that Burrell's locations were limited, as he was looking like a DH candidate, but he did receive more than a one year deal. This is probably a win, win...The Rays, in a division with the Red Sox and Yankees, needed an extra right handed power bat, and Burrell gets a two year deal to be a DH for a contender.

This is showing, however, the difference that free agents on the market are facing this off season. With the car makers struggling (one of the most dedicated advertisers and promotions industry for middle and smaller market teams), teams are projecting significantly less revenue and are therefore holding down the number of years and keeping their offers significantly lower as a rule. Ultimately Burrell signing for $8 million may make the Ty Wiggington's of the world think twice about asking for too much in their negotiations. Burrell is a pretty consistent bat that is well proven (and has playoff and World Series experience), and if he's taking $8 million, some of the less proven players are likely trying to get the coal out of their Christmas stockings.

Mark Teixeira Signing Adds Insult to Milwaukee Brewers' Injury

According to this article on MLB.com, the signing by the Yankees of Mark Teixeira double screwed the Milwaukee Brewers. Not only did the Yankees take their #1 starter and free agent CC Sabathia, but the signing yesterday of Mark Teixeira, according to the antiquated system for compensation for free agent signings, also screwed the Brewers out of their #1 compensation pick.

It is an interesting read, I highly recommend it. This may push a lot of small market owners to start demanding a new free agent system. Now I know that a lot of people are angry with the New York Yankees, and I have a little of that too, it seems to me that the Yankees are largely just playing the game according to the screwed up rules set up by the collective bargaining MLBPA and the MLB owners. Obviously, any system of real revenue sharing would bring about much screaming from NY and Boston markets, who are the big winners in this system, but really many of the other markets would do well to start watching their home town teams religiously and then the advertising revenue local would increase such that free agent signings would be possible there as well. The real problem for smaller market clubs is not that they are not big towns, usually...the problem is that they do not have the passion about their teams in large enough numbers to stay competitive.

That said, the system I think should change, and I've long advocated a salary cap system like the NBA for baseball. Oh, and let Mark Cuban buy a team.

Astros Sign RHP Clay Hensley to Minor League Deal

In clearly the Houston Astros' management's response to the Mark Teixeira signing by the New York Yankees, the Astros went out and signed former Lamar University and Beaumont native Clay Hensley, RHP, to a one year, $550,000 deal to compete for a rotation spot or a place in the bullpen. The Astros had apparently inquired about the pitcher a few years ago at the trading deadline, but signed him directly this year after getting the thumbs up from Hensley's former bullpen mate Doug Brocail.

Rich Get Richer III: Mark Teixeira Goes to NY Yankees

And it is done. Mark Teixeira has agreed to an 8 year, $180 million contract to be the first baseman for the New York Yankees. Obviously this does not mean that the Yankees will win the World Series, of course, but they certainly made a few Yankee fans happy. But as I read somewhere, being a Yankee fan, unless you grew up in NYC, is a little like cheering for Brad Pitt to get the girl at the end of the movie. Teixeira, Sabathia and Burnett were the girls, and Brad Pitt got them all.

Frankly, I'm wondering if other MLB owners aren't a little excited about the spending spree, given the luxury tax money going to the other clubs. If I were an owner of a small ballclub in this market and economy, I might hope NY continues to spend, spend, spend.

Anyway, there will be rumbling, but essentially the problem is with the ownership structure and lack of salary cap in baseball. I think a system like the NBA makes sense, with the allowance for guaranteed money and "Larry Bird" exceptions. But I don't foresee Boston and NY agreeing to that anytime soon.

So for now, Yankees and Red Sox will build through free agency, smaller clubs will build through signing their young talent to long term deals before they know how good they are, and that will be baseball.

Angels say "Uncle" to Teixeira

A report on Foxnews.com is stating that the Anaheim Angels have pulled out of the race for signing Mark Teixeira, meaning likely that he will not return to the Halos next year. With the Red Sox previously stating that they were being outbid, it looks like Teixeira will go closer to where he grew up (in Baltimore), with the Nats and Orioles still apparently bidding, but recent word is that the Yankees are considering tendering an offer. Nothing like Boras negotiations to keep the Hot Stove warm.

Kyle Farnsworth signs with Royals

Kansas City announced on Saturday that it had agreed to terms with hard throwing former Atlanta Braves and NY Yankee reliever Kyle Farnsworth on a two-year, $9.25 million deal that includes a club option for 2011.

Under the terms of the deal, Farnsworth will make $4.25 million next season and $4.5 million in 2010. The club option in 2011 is worth $5.25 million with a $500,000 buyout. Farnsworth could also earn an additional $750,000 per season in performance bonuses.

Farnsworth and the Royals had reached a preliminary agreement earlier in the week, but the announcement came today after Farnsworth passed his physical.

Yankees Sign A.J. Burnett: The Rich Get Richer

The Yankees have landed their top two choices from the free agent pitching market. A.J. Burnett has reached a preliminary agreement on a five-year, $82.5 million contract with New York, as first reported by ESPN.com, and they also landed C.C. Sabathia during the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Looks like Boston, you've been served.

Yanks get their man, CC agrees to 7 year, $161M deal pending physical

CC Sabathia has decided to sign the richest contract of any pitcher in Major League history with the New York Yankees. An official announcement will not be made until many items can be agreed upon and reflected in the contract's language. Sabathia must also pass a physical examination, but that is expected to be a mere formality.

An additional season and $20 million, authorized by Hal Steinbrenner and offered in the final minutes, sweetened the package. The deal now represents a record-setting seven-year pact for about $161 million, adding to the original offer presented to Sabathia on Nov. 14, which was reported to be for $140 million over six years. Reports on Wednesday afternoon said the package is worth $161 million and will include a buyout clause that will give Sabathia the right to opt out after three years, which was added to allay any concerns Sabathia and his family had about living in New York.

Nats and O's offer Texeira big deals; Sox, Halos, Yanks also interested

According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, via a major league source, the Washington Nationals have offered the switch-hitting first baseman an eight-year, $160 million contract that would pay Teixeira an average of $20 million per season. The Nationals would not confirm the dollar figures.

The Angels, Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees are also in the mix. A published report said that the Orioles offered Teixeira a seven-year, $150 million contract.

Braves offer Burnett 4 year deal but Yanks also in pursuit

The Atlanta Braves, who had offered a four-year deal with a fifth-year option worth a guaranteed $60-65 million before the meetings, have also expressed a willingness to go to five years on Burnett if necessary. The New York Yankees, making a hard late charge to beat out the Atlanta Braves for A.J. Burnett, offered the free agent right-hander a guaranteed five-year contract Wednesday, a baseball source told ESPN.com. The 2008 AL strikeout leader is reportedly seeking a 5 year deal in the neighborhood of the 5 year, $91.5 million deal Cubs' Carlos Zambrano received.

CC update

ESPN is reporting that Sabathia's deal with the Yankees will pay him as much as $160 million, and that there are "zero roadblocks" to getting the deal done.

Sabathia in Pinstripes

The NY Post is reporting that CC Sabathia is going to accept the 6 year, $140 million offer from the Yankees. Apparently the meeting with Cashman went well and Sabathia took the money offer.