By Nathaniel Lowenthal
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees finished last season with disappointing tastes in their mouths. The Sox failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and the Yankees were unable to defend their world championship, falling to the Texas Rangers in six games in the ALCS.
Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the winter meetings are about to start, the Red Sox and Yankees appear to be charting different courses on how to improve their rosters for next season.
The most notable difference between the two rivals is that they are not coveting the same free agents. The Yankees have made it clear that they are going after Cliff Lee, who has shut them down in two consecutive postseasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers, respectively. The Red Sox, on the other hand, have their rotation in order, but are rumored to be in the market for an outfield bat and have been linked to Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth.
Only two years ago, then-free agent Mark Teixeira appeared to be on his way to playing home games at Fenway Park. Teixeira’s destination changed when Yankees general manager Brian Cashman swooped in with a last-minute offer of eight years for $180 million. Teixeira followed the money — along with the Yankees’ two other marquee free-agent acquisitions, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett — and led the Yanks to their 27th world championship.
There was also the memorable battle over Cuban defector Jose Contreras before the start of the 2003 season. Like Teixeira, Contreras went with the Yankees’ bigger deal over what the Red Sox were offering, leading Red Sox president Larry Lucchino to dub the Yankees the “Evil Empire,” because of their ability to outspend everyone in free agency. Though Contreras was a bust in pinstripes, the “Evil Empire” nickname still sticks today.
The two AL East clubs are handling their own free agents differently. Though the Red Sox made a quick decision in picking up David Ortiz’s option for the 2011 season, they are in no rush to bring back any of the players currently on the open market. They already have let catcher Victor Martinez sign with the Tigers and are yet to be involved in any substantial negotiations with third baseman Adrian Beltre or captain Jason Varitek.
Like the Red Sox, the Yankees’ captain is a free agent as well.
The Derek Jeter negotiations have become back-page fodder in New York, as the team is unwilling to give in to the shortstop’s exorbitant contract demands. No other team is likely to be willing to give Jeter the amount of money that the Yankees have initially offered, but the negotiations have hindered the team from putting a full-court press on Cliff Lee and from dealing with longtime closer Mariano Rivera, who is also a free agent.
While it’s almost certain that Jeter will be at short on Opening Day for the Yankees, the captain is not doing a good job in helping his team improve, by putting himself and his salary demands before the team.
In the well-known friendship/feud between Jeter and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, it is Rodriguez who has been portrayed as the egotistical and jealous friend in their rivalry. Rodriguez, it is believed, envies Jeter’s ability to be the face of the franchise and avoid all criticism.
However, Jeter appears to be the jealous one right now, as he is refusing to take a pay cut because of A-Rod. After his infamous opt-out in 2007, Rodriguez received a 10-year, $300 million contract from the Yankees, which will last until he is 42 years old. Jeter wants a similar type of contract — reportedly upwards of six years at $23 million or $24 million per year — but unlike Rodriguez, who had leverage coming off an MVP season, Jeter has none. There is simply no secondary market for a 36-year-old shortstop coming off the worst season of a legendary career.
The face of the franchise has taken priority for Cashman, whereas Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is letting his players look at the open market. This strategy could pay off for the Red Sox if they are able to acquire the outfield bat or corner infielder they need, or finally trade for San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, whom Epstein has reportedly wanted to acquire for the past few seasons.
If the Yankees miss out on Lee because of the stalled negotiations with Jeter, the Yankees will have been unable to acquire a top free agent for the first time in a long time, and they will only have themselves to blame, as once again their pockets are deepest for Lee.
The hot stove is only simmering right now for both rivals, as player movement has been minimal thus far. Though it will pick up shortly, don’t expect to hear any trading of words between the two franchises. Epstein and Cashman are going to navigate the free-agent market differently, both with their own players and those on the open market.
The fiercest rivalry in baseball is unusually dormant right now. Rest assured, it won’t stay that way.
Nathaniel Lowenthal is a member of NESN’s production team.
