Update: HOLLIDAY A CARD 7yr/120 million, p178

[jim]

There are positive signals here in these negotiations. I haven't been this excited about a potential signing since A.J. Burnett went to Toronto.

[skmsw]

I don't want them to keep bidding against themselves. At this point that's all I think Boras is doing.

+++

Need to be careful, because I still believe the Yankees are standing by with right of last refusal and an offer of "whatever you've gotten so far, plus 10%;" but in general, I agree with the above. If we've given a proposal, and then in response to their feedback we've sweetened it, at this point it is time for them to give a counter-proposal, or else introduce the other teams in the running and what they are offering that we are not.

I understand why people worry about the Yankees, but I don't think they have this big pressing need for a player like Holliday. They just signed Texieria to a similar ridiculous deal and they'll need to give Granderson a raise soon. I'm guessing that they'll sign Damon and be done with it. Even the Yankees have limits.

Not to sound snide, or even paternalistic . . . but we've sort of been over this.

Damon = $13mm in 2009
Matsui = $13mm in 2009
Nady = $6.5mm in 2009
Wang = $5mm in 2009

Even if they keep Damon (I'm skeptical), and even with Granderson aboard (whose 2010 number is quite reasonable), they still have a PAYROLL-NEUTRAL path to adding Holliday if they want it. Assuming they even have to go payroll-neutral.

Now, that's not to say that they WILL sign Holliday, or that those dollars won't just go to pay escalaters for people like ARod, Jeter, etc . . . . but however much it may be true that their payroll has an upper limit, there's really no reason to assume they already are at it.

I don't hear any whispers about the Yanks being in on Holliday. So I am not attributing my paranoia to Boras plants. really, I now their M-O. If they want him, they will sit back, say nothing to no one, then swoop in at the end to match the best offer. If they truly want to get "younger and more athletic," and they have a potential opening in left field -- then the Yankees are still running in the background.

[TGantz]

Not to sound snide, or even paternalistic . . . but we've sort of been over this.

Damon = $13mm in 2009
Matsui = $13mm in 2009
Nady = $6.5mm in 2009
Wang = $5mm in 2009

Even if they keep Damon (I'm skeptical), and even with Granderson aboard (whose 2010 number is quite reasonable), they still have a PAYROLL-NEUTRAL path to adding Holliday if they want it. Assuming they even have to go payroll-neutral.

Now, that's not to say that they WILL sign Holliday, or that those dollars won't just go to pay escalaters for people like ARod, Jeter, etc . . . . but however much it may be true that their payroll has an upper limit, there's really no reason to assume they already are at it.

I don't hear any whispers about the Yanks being in on Holliday. So I am not attributing my paranoia to Boras plants. really, I now their M-O. If they want him, they will sit back, say nothing to no one, then swoop in at the end to match the best offer. If they truly want to get "younger and more athletic," and they have a potential opening in left field -- then the Yankees are still running in the background.

I don't mean to sound like a smartass but we've been over just about everything more than once. It's a 97 page thread.

But like I said before, considering raises that will have to be given and the length of their 1B's contract... I don't see them handing out a similar contract as far as length goes. What will they look like in 5 or 6 years when they're stuck with three old players making a huge chunk of their payroll (A-Rod, Texiera, and Holliday)?

That being said, I wouldn't be too surprised if they did swoop in. I guess the Yankees technically have enough money to do it. But my gut feeling is that some of this speculation (it has been mentioned on different blogs/articles) is just because the Yankees history makes them an easy target for a potential bidding war candidate. I guess we'll see how it plays out. Everything is speculation, and it's frustrating as hell. I just want to know!

[tscards]

What, an hour or hour and a half until we hit 100 Pages in this thread??

[clevername]

I honestly don't think money enters the picture at all for the Yankees. As steve has pointed out, they have big contracts coming off the books almost each year that would cover any big signings. They're almost reaching the limit of what you can really spend on a team.

I think they simply decide if they want a player on their team or not. Would they rather have Holliday now or sign Damon for a year and get Crawford next year? It's not about how much money a player costs, it's about who will be available when and how can they have their lineup prepared to receive them.

In short, it sucks for everyone but them.

[TGantz]

I honestly don't think money enters the picture at all for the Yankees. As steve has pointed out, they have big contracts coming off the books almost each year that would cover any big signings. They're almost reaching the limit of what you can really spend on a team.

I think they simply decide if they want a player on their team or not. Would they rather have Holliday now or sign Damon for a year and get Crawford next year? It's not about how much money a player costs, it's about who will be available when and how can they have their lineup prepared to receive them.

In short, it sucks for everyone but them.

That's not fair. +1 more vote for salary cap.

[TimeForGuinness]

I honestly don't think money enters the picture at all for the Yankees. As steve has pointed out, they have big contracts coming off the books almost each year that would cover any big signings. They're almost reaching the limit of what you can really spend on a team.

I think they simply decide if they want a player on their team or not. Would they rather have Holliday now or sign Damon for a year and get Crawford next year? It's not about how much money a player costs, it's about who will be available when and how can they have their lineup prepared to receive them.

In short, it sucks for everyone but them.

That's not fair. +1 more vote for salary cap.

Life isn't fair and neither are the Yankees.

[Socnorb11]

Just a hunch, but I would imagine that Joe Mauer being a free agent next off-season may play into this. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees are stashing a little cash to put him in pinstripes, and signing Holliday would make that significantly more difficult.

[cards2468]

when a team has that large of a payroll, how do you implement a salary cap? set it at their payroll level and hope inflation catches up?

[Gashouse]

Just a hunch, but I would imagine that Joe Mauer being a free agent next off-season may play into this. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees are stashing a little cash to put him in pinstripes, and signing Holliday would make that significantly more difficult.

Even though Mauer will be expensive, I think it will be a PR nightmare for the Twins to let the hometown boy walk away just one season into a new stadium built with lots of public money. They're supposed to be working on an extension this offseason.