Andrew Zimbalist disagrees that the Yankees bought their championship. He notes that the contracts meted out this season may come back to bite the Yankees in the future:
Imperfect though it may be, baseball has a system, and the Yankees play by its rules. Its success this year depended significantly on the acquisition of pitchers A.J. Burnett and C.C. Sabbathia, along with first baseman Mark Teixeira. But the Yankees did not sign these players to one-year contracts (though the team did sign pitcher Andy Pettitte to a one-year deal).
Mr. Sabbathia was great in 2009, but he is signed through 2015 when he will be 36 years old; Mr. Burnett through 2013 when he’ll be 36; and Mr. Teixeira through 2016 when he’ll be 37. Many of the team’s other stars are also signed to long-term contracts. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez is signed through 2017 when he will be 42 and catcher Jorge Posada through 2011 when he’ll be 40.
It’s possible that the positive correlation between payroll and success the Yankees experienced this year will turn into an inverse correlation. After all, player performance tends to wane with age. But these players have contracts that require the Yankees to increase their annual pay in the years ahead. Those salaries will weigh on the team’s ability to acquire other players.
What may be true is that teams can buy a championship, but it’s tough to buy two. The Marlins bought one in 1997, but couldn’t afford to try to repeat.
Hat tip, BBTF.
Posted by David Pinto at 11:36 am | Team Evaluation | Permalink | 3 Comments
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November 16th, 2009 @ 11:38 am
With an aging team, I thought that 2009 would be the best shot in a while for the Yankees to win it. At least they managed to shore up their farm system a little in the last few years.
November 17th, 2009 @ 4:37 am
People said that when they signed Giambi and Jeter and the rest to their then-gargantuan contracts. Didn’t stop the Yankees from spending whatever money it pleased them to spend, on Matsui or Damon or Sheffield. That’s the problem with the Yankees’ financial advantage; they can give out silly contracts like Sabathia’s with the internal understanding that they’re only really getting three or four good years out of it, probably, but have the money to burn on getting those three or four good years. What’s going to happen, they’re going to plead poverty when Felix Hernandez hits free agency?
November 18th, 2009 @ 4:52 am
So if the Phils had won, they would’ve gotten it for free? What nonsense.