For years, the New York Yankees have been the team that everyone loves to hate. They are consistently knocked for their excessive spending, bold transactions and cutthroat emphasis on winning.
"They buy championships," is what the naysayers proclaim. But a degree of jealousy swirls around Major League Baseball.
Sure, some teams don’t have the market and the financial resources to construct a team like the Bronx Bombers do. But when a team does have the resources, what's wrong with using them to build the best team possible?
Wouldn't it would be a bigger disgrace to the game if the Yankees took a passive approach and didn't consistently jump to the forefront of all speculation involving every big-name player that becomes available?
Owners with as many resources as the Steinbrenners should be expected to adopt a win-at-all-cost mantra. Any other mind-set would and should immediately raise a red flag as to where all the money is going and what the reasoning was in becoming an owner in the first place.
The Yankees look poised to continue to be aggressive and take risks in 2010 and beyond, just like the Boss would expect. It is this demand-the-best approach, whether in trade negotiations or when dealing with free agents, that has elevated the franchise to one of sports’ most hated and successful organizations.
Sometimes their wheeling and dealing might not work out the way the team anticipates. Giving Jason Giambi a seven-year, $120 million contract in December 2001 or Carl Pavano a four-year contract worth nearly $40 million in December 2004 are two such examples of that.
But the Yankees have since shown that they are not unfazed when transactions go awry. They are more than willing to continue to go after the top players available, even when other teams may be reluctant to shell out ample cash or relinquish any real talent.
Who else would sign the top three free agents in one offseason (Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett) to deals worth $180 million, $152 million and $82.5 million, respectively?
Burnett has been decent at times, but his tenure in pinstripes since the 2008 offseason can hardly be considered a success. Still, the Bronx Bombers are looking to trade, spend, buy, sell and do whatever it takes to ensure that they put the best product on the field at all times.
Friday’s moves — unofficially acquiring Astros first baseman Lance Berkman and adding Cleveland Indians outfielder Austin Kearns — are further indications of that.
Even before the two trades, the Yanks attempted to acquire big-name pitchers Cliff Lee and Dan Haren this month, and were linked to slugger Adam Dunn.
The New York Yankees could very well be done dealing before Saturday's trade deadline. After all, the team has few weaknesses and already has made strides toward addressing them. But until the clock strikes 4:01 p.m., you can bet they will be going full throttle to see how they can improve their team prior to the stretch run, even if it means thinking outside the box.
Every big-name player that gets mentioned, it seems like the Yankees are right there kicking the tires, which makes it hard to believe Saturday would be any different.
Love them or hate them, sometimes you just have to give credit where credit is due.
