Phillies Nation

90 Responses to “Report: Phillies Still Eyeing Lowe”

1. Manny Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 10:56 am

   Yuck the Fankees

2. Paul Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 10:57 am

   For that much $, the Yankees can have him.

3. NJ Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 10:58 am

   If the Yanks are going to 4 guarunteed years on Lowe then it would be a perfect time to try and back-door a 2 year deal with Sheets before teams like the Astros and Rangers turn on him.

   It’s going to take a real blinder from Amaro to sign Lowe without making a bad deal.

4. Manny Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 11:02 am

   I’ll assume the NY Times story is biased because it’s from New York. We can (should) definitely match that 4-year offer.

5. Phil Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 11:09 am

   And this is why we need salary caps in baseball. The Yankees are going to scoop up CC, Lowe, Sheets, and Burnett and have an epic rotation and move Joba back to set-up man role to get ready for closer once Mariano retires.

6. Don M Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 11:09 am

   CC to Yankees for 7 years, $160 Million… I hope he breaks his arm

7. Don M Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 11:11 am

   Lowe can come here.. be a big fish in a small pond… or go there, and just be another player on the All-Star team that somehow misses the playoffs..

   his choice

8. Gavin Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 11:11 am

   I dont think anyone can say they are surprised. The NY Yankees…..the best team $$$ can buy.

9. Don M Says:
   December 10th, 2008 at 11:16 am

   Money can’t buy much then… buying big names is way different than putting together a winning team. A-Rod alone makes more than Hamels, Victorino, Werth, Burrell, and Ruiz combined…..

10. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    I agree with you Don. If the Phillies made a big offer (though a bit lower than the Yankees’) to Lowe, wouldn’t you just rather play for us and potentially be a star? Or go to the Yankees and be their 4th guy, just one of the bunch…?

    Who makes the decision… Lowe or Boras?

11. Griffin Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    As the Yankees prepare to ask the city of New York for more tax free bonds to build their stadium, they pay $160 million to Sabathia and $66 million to Lowe.

    So as a New Yorker, I’m helping pay for the stadium and watching them sign every free agent under the sun. Just disgusting

12. MA Phanatic Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    somewhere, Jamie Moyer is smiling…

13. Chuck P Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    Crazy… they really want to buy a team that can win a championship for the opening year of the new Yankee stadium.

14. NJ Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    Griffin- Same goes for the Mets doesn’t it, your paying for the stadium and paying again for it to be called citifield.

15. Paul Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    There is a going to be a point where even die hard Yankee fans are going to balk at paying ridiculous tickets prices. Especially in this current economy.

16. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    New York already ruined the economy. Now they want to ruin baseball.

17. PhillyFriar Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    This was the Phillies’ big splash. Amaro may talk about the Phils being interested in other pitchers, but none of the other pitchers are of Lowe’s caliber. As MA Phanatic says, this makes it a near certainty that Jamie Moyer returns.

    Personally, I’d see if Ben Sheets were interested in a 2-year deal with a vesting option for a third year. But we all know that’s unlikely.

18. NJ Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    We’ll probably step up our pursuit of Burnett but I’d say he unpacks back in Toronto, wonder why the Phils haven’t been openly looking at Sheets…

19. Gavin Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    I went to Yankee Stadium 2 years ago and the tix price was a few bucks less than my Phillies tix. The seats were a little higher up, but not much. It sounds like they are charging an arm and a leg for tix in the new stadium. At some point people will stop showing up.

20. Georgie Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    This really isn’t fair to all the teams in smaller markets. In a few years, if this current trend continues with these obscene contracts, mlb will consist of a few wealthy teams with all the great players, and the majority of teams not in contention for anything, ever. I honestly feel that the Phillies and Rays were the last of the lower payroll teams to make it to the ws. In the coming years, with practically ALL top players being in NY, Boston, LA, what will be left of the KC’s, O’s? It does suck if you really think about it.

21. Chuck P Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    I hope and pray that we don’t start talking about Burnett… I would rather take a chance on 2 or 3 years of Ben Sheets; even if you have to keep him on a 5 or 6 inning limit and bring up a 6th pitcher to aid the bullpen (like the Cubs did with Harden…). I’m really not interested in Burnett… I could be wrong but I don’t think he’s worth it ($$).

    Jamie Moyer is smiling somewhere; you are correct.

22. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    If we don’t get any of the FA pitchers (Lowe, Burnett, or Sheets), I could not see our rotation improving in 2009. We will probably get Moyer and then it’ll be the exact same thing as last year.

    Amaro has been pretty clear saying that pitching is our priority, so I highly doubt that he would let Lowe go to the Yankees that easily.

23. Gavin Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    I’m no economic genius……but doesnt it have to hit an overall ceiling at some point? I mean, a handful of players making huge dollars is relatively doable, but everyone that outplays their original contract is getting big to huge $$. It has to hit a ceilig at some point.

24. psujoe Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    question. If Sabathia gets hurt after signing would the yankees have insurance to pay some of the $160 mil or ar they SOL?

25. Craig Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    Georgie – a bit unrealistic to call the Phillies a lower payroll team. They had over 100m payroll last year

    As for the Yankee’s they’ve spent the 00’s buying the best and not winning championships.

26. Griffin Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    NJ, you’re right about the Mets. Unfortunately, all the signage for Citi field is already in place. They have spent millions on installation so they don’t want Citibank to back out of it.
    Every time I drive to my parent’s house, I have to see that monstrosity. It does make me feel better that I can stroll into their new house next year with my Philies World Champions gear. It’s revenge for all those times I’ve been cursed out at Shea. Did I mention that I hate the Muts?!?!?

27. Matt Kwasiborski Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    I am a little surprised that CC went to the Yankees but can’t blame him for taking that amount of guaranteed money. I mean, wow, that is a ton of dough to turn down. But this situation reminds me of the Rangers outbidding bascially themselves for A-Rod and we all know how that turned out.

    Losing out on Lowe for the money is disappointing but nothing that is a huge loss for us. If he does go to the Yanks, then we will probably go hard after Moyer and get him resigned. I am not high on Sheets for the amount of money he will probably ask for. He has never made it through a full season uninjured I believe.

    And if CC and Lowe join the Yankees- that takes out two All-star pitchers from the NL which benefits all of us. I think Burnett will sign in ATL but I am not convinced of that either. We should see if we can convince Peavy to pitch in Philly if a starter is that high of a priority.

28. Griffin Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:18 pm

    psujoe, The Yankees can get insurance for Sabathia if his injury was not a pre-existing condition. They’ll take out a policy now and if in three years, Sabathia sustains a freak injury, they will recoup a portion of his salary. But, if the injury was diagnosed at the time the policy was originally taken out, they will NOT receive payment from the insurance company. The Mets are not getting any money for Billy Wagner’s injury because it was discovered that he had damage to his shoulder/elbow when he first took his physical before he became a Met.

29. Don M Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    I have NO PROBLEM with our starting rotation being the same as last year.. it proved to be more than enough. Hopefully with Carrasco, Savery, Drabek in the coming years, they can reaplace Myers, Moyer etc when their Phillies days are over..

    Who knows if that plan would work or not though

30. Georgie Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    Craig, compared to the Yanks $200+M payroll, I consider $100M “lower”.

31. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    Don M, it won’t work for 2009. Starting pitching was the weakest part of our team this year. We cannot bet on making the playoffs again with the same rotation.

32. Griffin Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    I agree Manny, counting on Hamels to make every start and Moyer to pitch as well as he did last year is very risky. Blanton wasn’t great during the regular season (although he pitched very well in the playoffs), who know what we’ll get out of Myers and our 5th spot is still up in the air. It’s our weakness, no question.

33. psujoe Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    Thanks Griffin, that makes sense.

34. mike mike Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Don M you think a player like lowe if all things are equal wants to come here over Yankess. This is about money, playing in new york gets you more chances to make advertising and endorsment money. Don glad you are happy with our rotation. even though Meyers velocity is at 89 and lower and had to go to the minors and was shelled two of his last three regular season games, and Blanton is still a guestion mark in my mind, Salvery is a wasted draft pick, pitchers out of rice tend to be ineffective pros. The coach at rice is known for burning out pitchers. Salvery last year should have
    improved but he didn’t. Happ is still unknown. Carrasco is still a work in progress, and most think he is a 3-4 if he makes it . Last year you had faith and faith can move mountains but in this case the phillies go into the season with these starters, and all the faith in the world won/t help, unforuntaly it is crazy the money spent on these pitchers and the years guaranteed is nuts. My point is that the phillies must change and spend more in draft and international market to compete with the other teams. I know they don’t have the dollars that Yankees, Red Sox, Chicago, Dodgers, Angels have. so must put more in development of there farm.If they gave Saunders a little more he be our 2 starter, and we wouldn’t need a lowe as much.

35. Don M Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    With Blanton and Happ (or maybe Carrasco) for a whole season, instead of Eaton and Kendrick for like 50 starts… I’d say thats already a big improvement, yea you can always improve even if you are the best

    but just adding names for the sake of adding them doesn’t make the team any better.. and if its going to take $17 M and 4 years to sign Lowe.. I think they should let someone else do that

36. mike mike Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

    One thing that was interesting on espn today. They listed the top pitchers contract Santana, a stud 137 million. Zito a dud 121, Hampton 120 a dud, mulder a dud, make a mistake and it kills anyone but a yankee or boston or angles. we need a cap to level the playing field

37. Chuck P Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    I’m not thrilled with this deal… I’m not thrilled about helping the Cubs get Jake Peavy and we are the odd man out in this deal… not building for the future, not getting the A-list player. We’re just kind of there to help the deal get done… the nice guys (and we know where they finish). Aren’t we the World F*ing Champions??

    One name that we have kind of written off is Andy Pettite… I mean, at 36 y/o the guy is younger than the other players on our wish list (Lowe is 37 and Moyer has already filed for Medicare). His cred took a hit because he admittedly used HGH but I respect him for admitting it. He had a poor season last year; understandably so amidst all of the distractions (he lost one of his good friends, he lost a lot of respect and gained a huge black mark). No one seems to want to take a chance… he might be a cheaper option and he might be out to prove something.

38. psujoe Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    I guess we should’ve expected this with Pettite, Mussina and Giambi all coming off the books the Yanks just have too much $$$$ available. approximately 48 mill for those 3 guys alone. By singing Sabathia and Lowe for App. 39 mil they’re saving money, LOL.

39. Andrew Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    yankees just made a deal with sabathia

    http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-sabathiayankees121008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns&expire=1

40. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    If you are THAT confident in Blanton and Happ, then OK. Don’t forget that despite everything, Kendrick did get 11 wins.

    We have a big hole between Hamels and Myers…and we have to fill it quickly with Lowe or perhaps Sheets.

41. Matt Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    If the Yankees want to overspend like this, let them pay the luxury tax and watch them field another team that looks like worldbeaters on paper, but can’t put together a playoff team. If the Yankees actually won since 2000, maybe I’d be more outraged.

    How many times has someone gone to the Yankees, only to underachieve big time? Pavano, Randy Johnson, Vasquez. The list goes on.

    By the way, the Phillies went 3-0 in playoffs games started by Lowe and Sabathia.

42. Wilson Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    At what point do the Yankees say enough is enough! Both of these contracts are outrageous. I hope they both pull a Carl Pavano

43. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:58 pm

    “By the way, the Phillies went 3-0 in playoffs games started by Lowe and Sabathia.”

    Matt, that’s because the Phils and the crowd were simply outstanding…not because Lowe and Sabathia sucked.

44. Maverick Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    Mike Mike do you have a link to that article? I couldnt find it on espn.

    thanks

45. Mike B. Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    Here’s what I don’t understand. Why would he sign with the Yankees if he has a career 6.02 ERA at Yankee Stadium in 52.1 IP? Part of that obviously has to do with playing the Yankees, but fun fact: he’s given up 13 career HR agains the Yanks, 9 of which have come at Yankee Stadium. And he thinks Citizens Bank Park is too small? Yankee Stadium’s dimensions are even smaller, especially down that short porch in right field (329 at CBP, 318 at Yankee Stadium). And the New Yankee Stadium is keeping the same dimensions. So a right-handed pitcher who’s given up 1 HR for every 7 IP at Yankee Stadium is going to pitch in the American League to lefthanded batters with the knowledge that if he messes up, they will hit it down that right field line. Really Lowe? I’m almost thinking there’s no way he’d do that.

    But for us, it’s better that than him landing with the Mets.

46. Don M Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    WINS are the single most overrated stat for Pitchers.. yea Kendrick did post 11 wins last, but more importantly, he had an ERA of 5.5!!!

    Hamels only had 14wins, but is a “20 game winner” waiting to happen because of his ERA that has gone from 4.08, to 3.39, to 3.09 in consecutive seasons

    I think Moyer is still effective, not because he won 16 games last season, but because of the fact that the Phillies had a legit chance to win almost every single time he took the mound..

47. Craig Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    Georgie – When you take the highest payroll in professional sports then obviously everything else is going to be lower.

48. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    What I was pointing out with Kendrick’s 11 wins is that you need to take them into consideration if you think that Blanton and Happ can easily outperform what guys like Kendrick ended up getting this season (which were WINS).

49. Georgie Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    Craig, I’m really not interested in getting into an argument with you over payrolls. Suffice it to say that greed has taken over everything, including professional sports, and if things don’t change, there will be no competition to speak of, and isn’t that what sports are all about?

50. Matt Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    Manny – I’m not suggesting that Lowe and Sabathia sucked. Just that we won those 3 games, and we certainly could hang with them again. The crowds were outstanding, and certainly played a part.

51. Geoff Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    Thats too much for a 36 year-old…lowes good but this is such a typical yankees move…and its why i hate them….the braves will overpay for burnett, if the yankees back off of him…and let them do that…

    now the phillies should press to get zambrano included in this peavy deal to bolster our rotation…the good thing is taht happ appears to have been taken out of the deal and replaced by kyle kendrick. PERFECT…happ will be good in this rotation. amaro shouldnt wait around for moyer for too much longer…they need to trade for/acquire a third starter to go ahead of blanton and happ…that will make me happy…i wonder what it would take to get the cubs to include zambrano, since they FOOLISHLY admitted that theyd try and trade him if they got peavy, in addition to or instead of marquis.

52. Justin Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Geoff if the Phils were to get Zambrano we’d have to give up some assortment of Donald, Marson, Carrassco, Happ.

53. psujoe Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Is Zambrano really worth 18 million a year for 5 years?

54. Geoff Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Yes I know that….Im just wondering which ones…obviously marson adn carrasco wont be traded…all this talk of nick punto means they could try and trade donald…donald or happ would spearhead the deal…then add in two guys from the top 25 prospect list the phillies have and thats a decent start…

55. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    I can’t see Lowe with a Yankees uniform… don’t know why. I can definitely see Burnett and Sheets with the Yankees, though.

    They could easily get Sheets.

    And they will probably get either Lowe or Burnett. So in my opinion, it’s going to come down to: Who is being more aggresive… the Phillies with Lowe or the Braves with Burnett? Hopefully, we have a pretty solid offer for Lowe and the Yankees, with CC already taking a huge chunk of their $$, would prefer to get Burnett.

56. mike mike Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    Don M I can’t believe you really can come on this blog and say Happ and Blanton are improvement and think that staff is good enough to get us to the world series. Lets get serious, Hamels a stud no doubt about it. Myers a starter who was sent down and is losing velocity, Blanton 6 of 16 quality starts as your three, happ 26 year old low level prospect and a cheap alternative, Don M I can’t believe you would try to sell that to us as improvement comeon I know you think what ever they do is great but you are really talking from the heart of a fan, not a person who is really thinking how we are going to compete with a bunch of question marks plus Durbin who was getting hit at the late stages isn’t the stopper we should reley on.

57. MP Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    I think Burnett will end up with the Yankees. For the first time in days, I think we have a real shot at Lowe.

    I wasn’t too crazy about Lowe at first, but now that we’re so close, I REALLY want this to happen.

58. mike mike Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    Manny why are the people on these blog so much, that whatever the phillies do we will win. I thought we would have discussion that made sense , but how can you talk to people who say K-rod doesn’t mean much, and our starters are improvement over last year crazy. Does anyone in there right ming think lidge doesn’t blow some saves. the mets offense is good as ours or better, now they have made a big improvement from last season and they are still going to get another starter and a left fielder plus two bullpen arm, one is spinger, and ibanez or bradley so talk all you want we are not in great shape unless we can improve our starters and left field.

59. mike mike Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    Beside lowe the yankess put a 30 million two year deal on table for sheets. So they will have C.C. lowe, sheets, and move joba back to eight inning pretty good, but we match them hamels myers and blanton. yeah.

60. MP Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    mike, I’m tired of people going on about Lidge blowing a save! It’s a waste of time. He hasn’t blown a save yet, and until he does, it’s dumb to speculate when he will. Can’t we ever be content that we have one of the best closers in baseball without ruining it with, “well today might be the day” talk? And I don’t think anyone on here thinks whatever the Phils do will win.

    K-Rod is not the “greatest” closer everyone thinks he is. His speed went from 96 to 92 and apparently there is a rumor its because of the roids. I’m sorry, if he’s the “greatest closer in baseball”, I thought his deal would be way more than 3/$37. If he was so great, why didn’t the Angels want him? It’s not like that price wasn’t overblown for what a “great closer” he is. I’m not saying he’s not good, but Brad Lidge he is not.

61. NJ Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    The Yankees aren’t going to move Joba back to the pen while Hank Steinbrenner is barking orders to have him in the rotation, Cashman and Girardi know their on a short leash when it comes to certain decisions if they turn out badly and they’ve already been burnt by Joba in the pen according to the Steinbrenner doctorine.

    It’s unlikely the yanks will add Sheets as well as Sabathia and Lowe baring in mind they have Wang returning and will still have some kind of plan for Hughes and Kennedy.

62. Don M Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    How do you not think that Blanton and Happ are improvements over Kendrick and Eaton??

    That is a better 4-5 rotation than just about any team I can think of. If Moyer or whoever isn’t there as your #3, and Blanton gets slotted there, it obviously weakens the rotation.. but Hamels, Myers, Moyer, Blaton, Happ is a VERY strong rotation..

    Durbin as the 6th-7th inning guy with JC Romero is fine.. he was just overused last year when they didn’t have set roles for anyone besides Lidge in the bullpen. He’ll bounce back with a strong season again this year.

    mike mike… which bridge are you currently about to jump off of? (South Street bridge is closed for two years).. relax dude I never said the Phillies are going to wiin 162 games because of their great pitching staff or that Lidge was going to be perfect again or anything… but more than the rest of us being positive.. how is it that you can come on here and continually be so negative about whatever moves the Phillies do or don’t make??

63. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    Look, Ken Davidoff of Newsday kinda agrees with me. It’s probably either Lowe OR Burnett for the Yankees.

    Please, let it be Burnett.

64. RichieAllen Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Just want to mention one thing to the Yanks…..you can outspend everybody..but there are always the Carl Pavano cases who bite you in the A**

65. Don M Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    The Yankees have been after Burnett since he was on the Marlins… they’ll pay him instead of Lowe because he’s younger, and would be content with being the #3 in their rotation behind CC, and Chien Ming Wang.

66. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    Let’s hope that happens, Don. That would leave us as clear favorites to get Lowe.

67. Derek Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    So if the Yanks sign Lowe, does that mean we make a run at Ben Sheets? Just thinking out loud here

68. MP Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Derek, I was thinking the same thing. I don’t think NYY is gonna go after Lowe now. I would be REALLY surprised.

69. mike mike Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    Don M just being real. Wins are over rated is true look at blanton 10 -0 and charlie was pulling him out after 5 inning in most starts, I am more mad at there lack of spending in the draft, As the fourth or fifth largest market, we can’t go toe to toe with Yankees or red sox or some other in the free agents market. but there is no reason to be cheap in the draft and international market. There is no reason to have poor player development people at reading like last year. They should have never put fobes in charge. just bad cheap coaches at reading who killed that teams development.

70. Griffin Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    I just heard a report that Hank Steinbrenner wants to go after Manny Ramirez. Am I the only one who kind of hopes the Phillies get Ramirez on a short-term deal? I may be crazy and I may not be thinking it through. I think I’m just mesmerized by those dreads….

71. mike mike Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    Don M by the way now you tell me the south street bridge is closed. Tried to go over it this morning, you could have saved me a trip?

72. Malcolm Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    I hate the Yankees almost as much as I hate the Mets. I would have liked to see Lowe come in as a #2, but I agree that it is not worth hiking-up the price to compete with New York. And yes, this basically ensures that Ruben now makes the jump to meet Jamie’s monetary demands. I’m not sure how I feel about that, I’m not sure how strong the rotation will be. There is no real reason, at this point, to think it will be any worse or better than last season.

    Now, the Phillies MUST make a move to pick up Juan Cruz. We give up a draft pick, but pick up bullpen insurance — which we need.

    With this three-way/four-way Jake Peavy trade on the block, it appears as if Kendrick OR Happ will be moving to San Diego along with another prospect. I previously liked the idea of getting Mark DeRosa and giving up young pitching when I believed that we were going to sign Derek Lowe. However, now, it’s a different story. I don’t know where we are taking this offseason.

    I hate the Yankees. I hate how they throw around money like it’s nothing. Even though it’s not totally fair to say that big money sucks in all the talent, it is a fairly legitimate complaint. Look at the Tampa Bay Rays, they had a $44 mil payroll last year. They took it to the World Series. The Marlins had the lowest payroll at $22 mil. They have a good squad, so do the Twins. Good teams develop good farm systems. However, how can the Brewers compete with a major market team in any attempt to retain starting pitching? The Yankees are going to pick up BOTH of the Brew Crew’s top two starting pitchers from last year.

    When a team like the Nationals need to compete with a team like the Red Sox for a player like Mark Teixeira, that’s grossly unfair. The Red Sox don’t even NEED Teixeira. The Nationals DO. Yes, the Yankees badly need pitching, but in genuine Yankee style — they will go to the extreme and sign 3 of the top 5 free agent pitchers. This is turning into a rant, but New York sports does this to me. The Yankees have $70 million more than the second highest payroll. $70 million separates the next 23 teams. When it comes down to it, the only thing I’ve ever liked about the Yankees is that even when they throw all the money in the world at a player, sometimes there is a player who makes a personal decision and signs with another team for less money. And that, every once in a while, shows me that there still can heart in the business of sports. Will it happen this year?

73. Georgie Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Griffin, dude, step away from the bong-we don’t want to see a bunch of Phils fans sporting dread wigs!

74. Georgie Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Malcolm, AMEN! I will be a lifelong fan of any professional player that signs with a team for lesser money just because he’d rather play there. I blame agents for alot of what has happened in sports, they use athletes for their own personal gain, often taking advantage of them by throwing other players’ big contracts in their face. The agents know exactly how to manipulate these guys into going where the money is. Not saying the players are innocent in all of his, but they are just pawns in a chess game, in reality.

75. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:38 pm

    Malcolm: Hopefully Derek Lowe has a heart and will ditch the Yankees and come to the Phillies. He better realize that it would be better for his career.

76. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    In fact, I can hear the conversation going on right now in Las Vegas…

    Scott Boras: You have to go with the Yankees… The offer’s way too good to pass…
    Derek Lowe: But in Philly I’d be their No. 2, and they are the World Champions…
    Scott Boras: Yea, but the money…

    (I’m bored, sorry)

77. mike mike Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

    The one player who did sign for less I am pretty sure was pujois. He could have gotten a lot more. The player association puts pressure on these guys to accept the most money. not only the agents.

78. NJ Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    Oliver Perez wants 5/70… I swear I wet myself laughing at that one, I wonder if Scott Boras does stand-up comedy.

79. Georgie Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 6:23 pm

    Boras was just on ESPN being questioned about how baseball and contracts are being affected by the economy, he basically said he doesn’t think it’s a factor because ticket sales have been going up for the last 7 years. He appeared to be totally clueless that there are people in this country struggling to keep their homes or put food on the table, he really is a poor excuse for a human being.

80. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    He is simply disgusting, Georgie.

81. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    3:14pm: Rosenthal says the Yankees’ talks with Lowe are progressing, but reports that they’re close are overblown. He adds that the Yanks are also in active discussions with A.J. Burnett, and, surprisingly, Andy Pettitte.

    8:56am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees were discussing a four-year, $66MM deal with Derek Lowe late Tuesday night. Via MetsBlog, Heyman said on WFAN this morning that the Yanks are closing in.

    —-

    Key word: OVERBLOWN. I really hope the Yankees don’t get Lowe.

82. Steve Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 7:51 pm

    AMEN Georgie!!!

83. Manny Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Yankees offer Burnett 5-year deal! C’mon Burnett…accept it!

84. Grrrumpy Miner Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    OK…..Everyones complaining about how the Yankees are throwing money and years around like water.CC either sold himself out by taking basically 60 million less from the west coast teams,or plotting perfectly for the almighty dollar.Same thing with Derek Lowe at 4/66.These signings may be outrageous to any fan who wants a salary cap,BUT as much as I hate it,the Yankees are playing by the rules.Signing Lowe for that much money is going to make mediocre pitchers like Oliver Perez a lot of money that he isn’t worth and thats bad for any team.

85. Grrrumpy Miner Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 11:49 pm

    Also,the Mets signing of K-Rod was a GREAT deal for both sides.But is he Brad Lidge? No he isn’t.K-rod is a start,but you know the Amains aren’t done yet.Minaya knows that he has to bridge the gap from starter to K-Rod and no doubt he will.Also,I don’t know why you guys are complaining…I said after the Parade,Congrats,but on April 5,2009 every team is 0-0,as for the Phillies,the hunters have become the hunted.

86. Jeff Says:
    December 11th, 2008 at 12:11 am

    Are the Yankees planning to resign Wang after his contract is up next year?

87. Manny Says:
    December 11th, 2008 at 12:14 pm

    So have me made an offer to Lowe? Or is it still “just interest”?

88. maxhole Says:
    December 11th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

    cataldi on 610 yesterday said Yanks are looking to borrow money to pay off their new stadium. Makes me think even more that they can’t afford lowe right now after signing 160mm away to CC.

    to georgie and anyone else talking money, baseball needs to take a page from NHL and set a reasonable cap. any player who made over the cap had to give 25% of salary back to their team, providing much needed leverage for weak teams comparable to royals and muts haha!

89. Manny Says:
    December 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    On ESPN, they were saying that if Burnett signs with the Yankees, they expect the Braves and Mets to go hard after Lowe…. No one mentioned the word “Phillies.”

    I hope they’re in for a surprise.

90. Georgie Says:
    December 11th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    Manny, I heard that too, I kept waiting for the guy to mention the Phillies being in the mix, but nary a word.

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