Highest Payroll No More?

The Yankees have been much maligned in the past decade or so for having by far the highest payroll in baseball. Since baseball is the only sport without a salary cap, the Yankees were really the only team in sports being criticized for this. Why they are criticized more then a team like the Florida Marlins where the fans don’t show up and the owner just pockets all of the money is beyond me, but that’s neither here nor there. The Yankees payroll used to be much higher then any other team in baseball, but the gap is closing fast. Teams like the Red Sox and Mets are quickly gaining on the Yankees and could be on the verge of passing them. This off season, the Yankees have trimmed their payroll from $195 million to $135 million (including Pettitte’s player option which has not been exercised yet) but does not include the likely re-signings of Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, as well as other players who may be signed. Those players are likely to bring the payroll up to the $160-170 million range, which is still much lower then past years. Other then re-signing Posada and Rivera, there are not a lot of places to spend a substantial amount of money on, other then signing a 3rd baseman like Mike Lowell which would be a horrendous decision in my opinion. The days of a $200 million payroll seem like they are over for now, thanks mostly to A-Rod’s opt out. The money saved from A-Rod not only makes it easier for Cashman to re-sign real Yankees like Posada and Rivera, but it will also keep some of the critics ff of the Yankees backs now that they have shaved nearly $40 million off of their payroll. There is even an outside shot that the Yankees could not have the highest payroll in baseball next season, but it would likely take a huge contract like one for Alex Rodriguez by the Red Sox or Mets. At least if the Red Sox sign A-Rod, they’ll officially cement themselves as the new evil empire which would at least be a load of the Yankees minds.