Not taking anything away from Doug M, he is a solid backup and a wonderful late inning defensive replacement at first base. But he is just not the year long regular. And so is the case with Andy.

With the money thats paid to him, Giambi should have been that guy. I hear that he is a solid clubhouse leader and all ,but, putting his entire tenure with the Yankees in perspective, he has been a major disappointment. And, if there is the slightest possibility of cutting him next year, that should be done.

If the Yankees are serious about pursuing Santana,as is being reported, Giambi might be one of the guys that might have to parceled after eating most of his contract (which we are anyway doing these years considering his playing time). He would be an upgrade for the Twins at the DH and might be willing to waive his no trade clause provided he gets a extension. It might also help the Yankees in saving their Tier I prospects from being traded and give some of the aging legs more time at the DH. And, how they would get serious production at first base! well, thats another question for another day..

Mo takes $7.5M for 2008, $3M

The Yanks owe Mo nothing whereas he could give the Yanks a discount so they can get better relief pitching for all the money they’ve paid him throughout his career.

I love how players want to be paid top dollar but it’s heresy for them to take less so the team can sign better players with the money freed up. Paul O’Neill took less so the Yanks could sign good guys or at least have the money to.

First off, you’re not what you once were. Many Yankee fans cringe at the sight of you coming in in the 9th inning after Joba mows down 3 batters in the 8th. If he wasn’t slated to be a starter next year, he would be the closer who could do a job better than you for around $400K, a fraction of the price you think you want which you’re not worth anymore.

Second here’s what the Yanks gave you which includes the most money for a closer or reliever ever and the most lucrative contract by average annual salary for one (no 1999 salary listed for some weird reason -source: COT’s baseball contracts):

2 years/$21M (2005-06), plus $10.5M 2007 club option
* 05:$10.5M, 06:$10.5M, 07:$10.5M club option
o 2007 guaranteed with 60 GF in 06 OR 114 g 05-06 (vested 2006)
* 4 years/$39.99M (2001-04)
o $8M signing bonus (paid over 4 years, 2001-04)
o 01:$7.15M, 02:$7.45M, 03:$8.5M, 04:$8.89M
o no-trade clause 2001-02; out clause after 2002

WHY’D YOU HAVE AN OUT CLAUSE? FOUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND A THEN RECORD 4-YEAR $39.99M CONTRACT WASN’T ENOUGH FOR YOU?

o avoided arbitration 2/01 ($10.25M-$9M)
* 1 year/$7.25M (2000), lost arbitration ($9.25M-$7.25M)
* 1 year/$0.75M (1998)
o renewed 3/98
* 1 year/$0.55M (1997)
* 1 year/$131,125 (1996)
* 1 year/$0.19M (1995)
* signed 2/90 as amateur free agent from Panama, $3,000 signing bonus
* agent: Fernando Cuza
* ML service: 11.105

SO SHUT UP ABOUT BEING DISSED.

Two years @ $10.5M/yr. = $21M or go elsewhere. The Yanks paid you handsomely at every stage of your career esp. after the World Championships.

He personally could have made us play LA instead of Cleveland, had he not been so horrible.

I’m worried Viz is gonna get a big 3 year offer from another team desperate for a reliever. We can’t do that with him.

Although I think the pen is gonna be solved from within outside of a lefty reliever, unless Igawa somehow becomes our Lefty out of the pen. Shudder.

That said, I don’t see any replacement for either Jorge or Mo on the market this year that would really satisfy me, so their resignings are probably the best the Yanks can get. Still, I wouldn’t sign them for that long.

And for people flaming others because they have the audacity to abandon the veteran heros…. no individual is above the team and I care more about the betterment of the team than the people who comprise it. If that means trading or not resigning veterans, so be it. It’s a competitive sport.