THE YANKEES BUY CHAMPIONSHIPS. It is JUST THAT SIMPLE.
The New York Yankees’ payroll is $206 million. That number may not mean much to you, but chew on this: the Yankees’ payroll is $44 million more than the next highest team (Red Sox).
That DIFFERENCE between the Yankees and the second highest payroll is higher than the ENTIRE TEAM SALARIES of two teams (Padres and Pirates). Their payroll is $33 million dollars more than the bottom 4 teams COMBINED. The numbers are staggering.
It is simply disgraceful that one team can dwarf the entire league by that much. What kind of skill does it take to buy the best and most expensive player and plop him on your team?
Do you remember those good Braves teams during the 90’s? The Braves earned their NL East crowns and World Series because they needed to constantly revive their farm system and trade talented players like Dave Justice to keep an affordable team salary.
The Yankees never have to worry about that.
A perfect example is what they did last year. Yankees fans were enraged that their team had not won a World Series in 9 years. So what was GM Brian Cashman to do? Would he bring up a shining star from the minors? Would he make a trade for a big time player? Would he look for a “diamond in the rough”? Would he make a strategic pickup of a guy at the trading deadline or take a chance on a Rule 5 player?
Of course not! Brian Cashman asked himself, “who is the best free agent player available?” Then bought CC Sabathia. Then found the second best, AJ Burnett, then BOUGHT HIM. Now he needed a hitter. Time to buy Mark Tiexiera.
That is such a joke. What skill does it take to just buy the best free agent available? There’s no risk in that. But that’s what they do in the Bronx.
Then the Yankees won the world series and their fans take full credit, citing the history of the organization and how much they deserve it.
Let’s compare them to the team they beat in the World Series. The Phillies have a high payroll themselves at $141 million, but there is a big difference: the Phillies grew their talent themselves and those players became the core. Four of their everyday infielders came from their farm system, Shane Victorino was a rule 5 guy and the Phillies took Jayson Werth from baseball oblivion.
When the Phillies wanted to grab a pitcher at the deadline last year, they needed to trade a bunch of prospects to get Cliff Lee. When they wanted Roy Halladay, they needed to trade Cliff Lee and some more prospects.
But the Yankees don’t need prospects because they just pluck the big name free agent. Don’t mention that to Yankees fans, however. They consider it their God given right to win championships. That doesn’t sound like too much fun to me.
49 Responses
How about the fact that the yankees have jeter, posada, rivera, cano, pettite, hughes, joba, gardner, and cervelli on the team. Where did they come from? How many other teams have that many guys from the farm system? Get it together hater
WAH
Hmm… Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettite, Phil Hughes, Brett Gardner… even the unfortunate loss of Austin Jackson (who was TRADED for Curtis Granderson)
Are you seriously saying that the Yankees don’t bring talent up from in their farm system?
I’m really sick of hearing people whine about this over and over (really original argument, by the way). Basically, what you’re saying is that it’s not fair to win just because you have the best players. How does that make sense? Baseball is not just a sport. It’s a business. The Yankees are better businessmen. They make smarter decisions, and so they come out on top. And what are the players supposed to do? Not take the money and go play for another team because winning isn’t “too much fun”? Your logic (I use this word loosely) is incredibly faulty. People who are better at their jobs than others make the most money, and the companies who are willing to pay those people will get better results. That’s how life works and that’s how baseball works. Don’t pretend it’s something it’s not. If you want to see heart and love for the game where no money is involved, then go watch little league and leave the big boy baseball to the people who can handle it.
That organization makes enough money to spend that kind of money. They owe it to the fans to win championships anyway they can. Don’t be mad at the Yankees for using what they have. Why dont you tell the fans of the smaller clubs to start filling there stadiums everyday. Btw I hate the Yankees but i understand why they do it
They pay the most money, they also are in the largest market and make the most money .. much more then San Diego and Pittsburgh … gabeech
We all know the Yankees spend a lot of money, any idiot can say that. Anyone could tell me where the phillies players come from and then tell me where three of the Yankees players come from. Let me tell you where logic is flawed. Lets start at the catcher position. Jorge Posada, been a yankee his entire career and came up through the farm system. Robinson Cano, who is currently the top hitter in the AL is another product of the farm system. We all know Derek Jeter has been a yankee since day one. Do you remember how they acquired Alex Rodriguez? They traded a promising young player by the name of Alfonso Soriano. Your article says they didn’t make a trade for a big time player. Last time I checked A-Rod is sort of good. Brett Gardner is another product of the farm system. There’s your diamond in the rough. The Yankees gave up their number one prospect to get Curtis Granderson this offseason. Do you know who is tied for the league leader in wins this year? It’s Phil Hughes. Do you know where he came from? The minor leagues, there’s your shining star. Andy Pettite, the man who won the most games last decade came up with the Yankees and has been there most of his career. And lets not forget about the man who many people consider the greastet closer of all time. He’s only worn the Yankees jersey. Last time I checked it was okay to sign free agents. The Yankees have sacrificed and devolped their players just as much as any other team and they deserve all the credit in the world. So next time you talk about them you should do a little research on where their players come from.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! That’s how losers talk.
Thank you (and everyone else who has commented on this) for your comment & we hope to hear from you again!
This whining about the Yankees is pathetic and silly. The Yankees bring in a huge amount of money in gate and TV revenue as well as merchandising. Rather than the owners pocketing all the profits, they reinvest in the team and always put the best affordable talent on the field. This shows a commitment to quality baseball and to their fans which is to be lauded, not condemned. If you have a problem with this, then you should direct your concerns to MLB and argue for a salary cap. Expect opposition from the players though.
Nope, beating philly last year was alot of fun.
I have been saying this for years. Being a red Sox fan, i know we are not too far behind in the “buy the best” race and a change to the system would hurt my team, but something needs to be done,
Baseball payroll is out of control.
I propose a system like football, where all teams pay into MLB and get an equal amount to spend on players… lets say 80 million. Then, if you want to pay an “Alex Rodreguez” then you will end out with Cub Scouts in the outfield.
The whole of baseball would be better with the change. Attendence all over the country would go up, ticket prices wouldn’t have to be so expensive and the came would become more competative. Everyone wins… except the players who would be forced to ‘get by’ on 1-3 million dollars a year. (Come on, guys… it’s a game!)
PeterG
Seriously!? Do you honestly believe that life will ever change in this respect where the biggest, strongest and wealthiest use that to establish their superiority to all others? It is the way of the world. Don’t whine about it just because you live in a sad little market. Rather take comfort in knowing that you have no choice in the matter and relish the moments when the Yankees do lose.
That being said, Yankees rule baby!
The 4 best players on the Yankees squad came up through their farm system… Posada, Jeter, Pettite, and Rivera. I suppose they don’t make a difference on the Yankees at all? Hater.
Protest for a league wide salary sap?
Or cry less.
Either or.
What kind of skill does it take to buy a championship? The same skill it takes to win more championships than any other major league team. Win games make money that simple.
I’m a Mets fan, so I’ve been bred to hate the Yankees, but you just sound like a whiny Phillies fan. Seriously.
I’m all for a salary cap in baseball to even things out a bit, but I’d be more angry if the Yankees spent that much and ran away with things every year. As it stands, they’re unable to do so. Case in point, their payroll has been the highest in baseball since 1999, and in that span, they’ve won 3 of 11 titles. In 2005, the White Sox won the Series with a payroll that’s 35% of the Yankees’. The Marlins took the Series in 2003 with a payroll 32% of the Yankees’. Going further back than that doesn’t make much sense, since the gap was much, much smaller.
If they were buying championships, why don’t they win every single year? The 4 players at the heart of the Yankees success came from their farm system as well. Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Pettit all came up through the system and they are at the core of the Yankees success for the last 20 years.
The problem with people like you is that you dislike the Yankees (which is fine) but you have to justify it for some reason. You don’t like them, that’s fine. Don’t spout off idiotic reasons like “they’re buying championships huuurrrrr,” just be honest. You don’t like them because they’re rich and their good at their jobs. You probably don’t like Apple Inc. or Microsoft either. It’s fine, just be honest.
The bottom line is, players still have to perform. That’s what we, the real fans, care about. And don’t worry, Yankees fans hate your team just as much as you hate us, so cry all your want
Really? How about some actual journalism for once. This story has been covered a hundred times over – none of your cited statistics are new, insightful, or even your own.
At least the Yanks don’t have fans throwing up on small children or running into the outfield game after game.
So WHAT?!?! Money does not equal championships. The Yankees have had a large payroll for a number of years. They had the highest payroll in 2008 and they didn’t win. The Mets had a huge payroll that year too and they did horribly. While money helps it doesn’t buy you championships.
You are failing to take into consideration what the market will bear. If Strasburg came in and demanded 50Million for being nothing but a college star no one would have signed him.
You are also failing to recognize that the Padres are a tiny baseball market. If there is anyone you should be mad at it is the citizens of the proximity of the small market teams. There is a reason why Yankees can charge $1500/seat because there is demand for it. With that $1500 comes the ability to make larger payroll.
You also fail to touch on the points that yankees are required to dole out tons of money in revenue sharing..but I suppose you don’t mind that aspect of it.
There is a book out there I suggest you read before you spew this shit onto the internet… Moneyball by Michael Lewis.
CC Sabathia and Mark Texiera, sure, the best at their positions at the time.. Burnett, no, not even second. You are just a sour Phillies fan who could have had Halladay AND Lee, and maybe another championship, but your owners want to keep their money instead of reinvesting. Yanks fill the ballpark, nearly, and so do the Phils, but ask yourself, where is that money going? I know the money I spend is getting back on the field, so I don’t mind a $9 beer, it tastes sweeter with a victory. I know it sucks that your football team will never win, same for your basketball, and OH SO CLOSE with Hockey… and your Phils will probably not win again for a long time. Sorry dude, the Yankees are capitalism at it’s best… and your team.. loser socialists… ha
Anyway, Hughes and Cano are best this year and we bought them from… oh right, the minors. Loser
Wow, how are you allowed to publish? This must be your website because you have not done any research at all. Can you name anyone off of the Yankees team other than the 3 guys you just mentioned? Did you know that the core of the yankees infield – the 3 of the players, were all brought up through the system? (Posada, Jeter, Cano) Did you know that 2 of our starting pitchers in our rotation were prospects brought up through our organization (Pettite and Hughes) How many do the phillies have? Did you know that our bullpen has players like Joba, Mark Melancon, Mariano Rivera, David Robertson, Alfredo Aceves – all pitchers brought up by our system or drafted by our scouts? Did you know that Brett Gardner, who now plays OF everyday, came up through our system? As did Francisco Cervelli? And even Javy Vazquez this year?That means that out of our every day players this year, the Yankees have 4 players that didnt come up through the sytem. 4. 2 Of pitchers from our rotation are from other systems, and 2 pitchers from our bullpen are from other systems.
People just love to complain because they can’t stand that our organization is run well. Other teams make money, and even take money from the Yankees – it is a management decision not to spend money on the team. Yankees put more money than most back into the team from what they make. Maybe your team should look into?
Actually, the author of this article does not own this site, but I thought it would be a popular post none-the-less.
It’s an opinion piece. This is the author’s opinion.
Either way, thank you for your comment & we hope to hear from you again!
Actually, the author of this article does not own this site, but I thought it would be a popular post none-the-less.
It’s an opinion piece. This is the author’s opinion.
Either way, thank you for your comment & we hope to hear from you again!
Oh ya then theres this:
Jeter, along with Posada and Mariano Rivera, became the first teammates in any of the four major league sports in North America (MLB, NFL, NBA, or NHL) to play in at least 16 seasons on the same team as teammates.
Yup just buying players and having no real talent of their own…
YANKEES RULE!
Typical Philly fan. Underachieving loser from a 5th rate city. Get a life dude, we have all heard the payroll arguement before. Why don’t you actually do some research instead of putting out this crap becasue you went out last night and didn’t have anything else to write about. Pathetic.
Thank you for your comment & we hope to hear from you again!
I think it’s odd that people don’t realize the amount of home-grown talent they have on their squad. Yes they bring in Free Agents in order to help the squad win, but you would be hard pressed to find any organization in baseball that scouts better or brings up better players who end up becoming stars. Once they become stars… you HAVE TO PAY THEM! Since they are stars on the most popular team in MLB and possibly the world, in the largest market, they are going to get paid the most. If you look at their roster – there’s a TON of home grown guys: Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Petitte, Hughes, Gardner, Cano, Cervelli, etc. You gotta pay these guys and you have to compliment your roster with Free Agents to help you win in the modern game. I liken them to a company that consistently produces a quality product.
Damn! Makes you wonder what the haters have been doing the last decade? The Yanks had a higher payroll last year (and in 2005). More than 25% of that payroll is what it costs to keep the great players they drafted and developed (Jeter – the 2nd highest paid Yankee @ 21.6 mil, Mo @ 15 mil, Jorge @ 13.1 mil & Cano @ 6 mil) and that # doesn’t include Pettitte (5.5 mil), Hughes, Gardner & Cervelli which would bring that total to over 40% of their payroll. So almost half of their payroll is for players that came through their system. Shouldn’t a site that has the word “baseball” in the domain feature writers that know something about baseball? Embrace the hate: http://tinyurl.com/yhdegnx
.-= Hank´s last blog .. =-.
You can’t argue with history. Though they have home grown talent , it’s the premium free agents that put them over the top. Starting with Babe Ruth. Baseball has never been an even playing field. There should be a salary cap. I don’t understand how teams like Pittsburgh even get a fan to come through the turnstile. Yankees fans will never agree or understand the view from outside.
Sounds like the Yankees know how to run a business… how unfortunate…
Yes, NYY, you should spend as much money as you want. Good for you. But in the end it only cheapens the championships you win. Look at McGwire & Sosa. Yeah, they broke the single season homerun record…but everyone knows they had an advantage! The reason they’re not filling stadiums in Pittsburgh & KC isn’t because no one likes baseball, it’s because they can’t afford to keep their star players. Look at Cleveland. Back to back Cy Young award winners. Now you’re going to tell me that the Indians can compete dollar wise to keep CC with the Yanks. Give me a break. Buy yourself another championship NYC. You all think you’re entitled. BS!
Baseball wouldn’t be baseball without the Yankees. Not because of their tradition, but because of their money. Because they spend that much money, they pay a luxury tax. That luxury tax is what keeps small market franchises alive. Teams with low incomes are able to stay afloat because of the money they receive from the Yankees luxury tax. If a team has resources, they should be allowed to use them. If it’s that big of a problem that they have money to use, put in a salary cap, and let small market teams die, or stop lamenting over this overused argument because you don’t tell a team they can’t use their money because others don’t have the same. You wouldn’t play 6 fielders because the other team isn’t as good.
What a stupid article, sounds like someone ran out of things to complain about. The truth is that every single team in every sport in the world would do the same exact thing if they had the resources.
Jeter is an overpaid joke.
You Yankee fans make me sick. Show a little humility for God’s sake. Yes you have your homegrown players — you’ve established that point. But here’s a news flash for you: The Montreal Expos had plenty of homegrown players. So do the Minnesota Twins, and so do a lot of other teams. But guess what? They can’t afford to sign them once they become free agents.
The Twins have to choose between keeping Mauer and Morneux. What do you think the reason is? Because they don’t want to win?!
Sure you’re going to keep winning your championships every other year and Girardi will can change his uniform number until the seamstress has a heart attack. But do me a favour and stop rationalizing it as shrewd business. Admit that you have an advantage and enjoy your parades.
.-= Keitho´s last blog ..Revisiting game 6 =-.
i’m an o’s fan and what i think this dude is trying to say (although he does sound like a fat chick on prom night) is that the yanks literally control all of baseball because they have the resources and the owner to do so.
let’s say the o’s wanted to get a notable hometown pitcher like aj burnett. they offer him a contract worth 10-20 mil above his market value. the yankees raise that by about 30-40 mil above market value, there is just absolutely no chance of the o’s bringing him in.
for all you people saying that it’s “good business” and all that shit, well, there is a reason every other league in the states has a cap.
You know, just because your team sucks doesn’t mean that the Yanks buy championships. Somebody better get this dude the WAAAAAAAAmbulance.
this was a pretty ridiculous comment. You hav e completely neglected the fact that we traded for swisher, granderson, boone logan, arod. jeter posada, pettitte, and mo are home grown. cano was an amateur f.a. signing. burnett was offered more money by the braves in the offseason and teixeria was all but a red sox before they disagreed on a vesting option for the 8th year of the proposed deal.
Your an idiot. Every team goes out and buys players. Maybe the Yankees just want to win more? No one cares about the farm teams. It’s about winning Championships and the Yankees always go all out to do that. Is it there fault they have so much money? Oh yeah, and I believe that Jeter, Cano, Rivera, Posada, Cervelli, and Gardner all came up with the Yankees. Figure it out.
peterG, you are an idiot. how would distributing only 80 mil to each team and forcing them to make due be better for the game? it would be the complete opposite.
that would take away the incentive to WIN and compete with other teams and other players. you dont mess with the simple principles of supply and demand just because it favors some more than others.
if you have plenty of money ( which the yankees ‘should’, given their history and being in a city like NEW YORK ) why NOT spend it and reinvest in your team as much as you can? why NOT get the best players you can, in order to make the games you host more exciting?
most people hate on them because they wish that their team or they themselves could be as glamorous and successful as the yankees. but no matter who they buy, they’re not going to win 162 games. they’re still a team; complex, dynamic, and imperfect just like everybody else in the league. and them losing to the tigers in game 5 of the ALDS goes to show that.
The new york yankees have been buying championships since the 1970’s when a media member called them “best team money can buy”.
I don’t even hate the yankees, in fact I respect their organization but its true, they try to buy championships every year with these ridiculous high payrolls. 2009 title is the biggest Bought title in the History of professional sports with buying Sabathia, Burnett and Texiara.
Yankees fans say they have a lot of farm system grown players such as jeter, posada, williams, posada and rivera? Yeah that’s cause the yankees can afford them while if another team had those players they would leave to a team like the yankees who buy championships. So using that excuse only goes against you yankees fans. I would like to see the yankees win a world series with half the payroll they have, oh wait, they can’t even win it with 200 million cause they choke in the playoffs.
I guarantee this, that if there was a salary cap in MLB, there would be NO 7 yankees titles since 1977.
Let yankees fans be in denial and enjoy their titles bought with checks.
P.S. I’m not a yankee hater, just stating the Truth.