Is RJ worth 26.7 million a year?

Actually more than that, once benefits and FICA are thrown in. Mention of 16 million a year is misleading. First you have that base salary, add 3 million a year the Yankees are throwing in to balance the trade for Vasquez and then add the 40% payroll tax and you get, yep, 26.7 million a year for a pitcher who will be in his mid 40's when the contract is up.

Makes you think that Steinbrenner is spending his children's inheritance, doesn't it?

News of the two year extention came from Rotoworld per AP by the way.

According to the AP, the Yankees and Randy Johnson have agreed to a two-year, $32 million contract extension.
The trade between the Yankees and Diamondbacks will be finalized after the physicals are performed. Jan. 6 - 12:42 pm et

This is double or nothing for the Yankees. At that money (luxury tax included), if he doesn't pitch to his previous Cy Young-type levels for 3 years, they got the shit end of the stick. What if he breaks down? What if he starts to become average? What if he suffers from Javier Vazquez disease?

Now, no one here, least of all myself, is considering THIS angle, but what if the constant scrutiny of NYC is something Randy Johnson can't handle? He's pitched in Seattle, Houston and Arizona, not exactly three media meccas.

I find this trade delicious, because they got rid of a guy who could have anchored their staff for 7 years in Vazquez for a guy who could become a grandfather before his contract is up.

I was a little surprised to see them give up on Vazquez so quickly. Give him some time to get acclimated and nurtured. Many players have a hard time their first year with a new team. Georgie is acting a little out of desperation for 2005 not thinking past it.

The Yankees franchise is so profitable that barely any of that money comes out of Big Stein's wallet. He's not the richest owner in baseball (I believe that it's Polahd), but his franchise makes the most money by far.

Malc,

With all the accolades and what not, I don't think media pressure in NY per se will be a problem.

Now if Steinbrenner says produce or a member of the family will come calling, that could be a different story.

I think the Yanks have gone mad myself, unbelievable that they have given up on Vasquez so quickly. Seems like they keep shipping pitchers out that Mel can't help, but they keep Mel around for a big salary. Just nucking futs to me.

I can't argue against giving someone like Vazquez more time, but it's not like he was traded for a bag of balls and a catcher's mitt. Maybe, just maybe, this guy never has a ERA under 4 in the AL. That's not so far fetched is it? Besideds, if they truly are "out" of the Beltran dealings, I bet they spend that money on a FA pitcher next year. Bernie, Brown, Karsay, Quantrill, there's a lot of money gone in '06.

I dunno. I was crunching the numbers we know about (about $325 in profits last year vs. salary and other operating costs) and started to wonder if they aren't darn close to breaking even. Then I saw this article in the Times today: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/06/sports/b...yankees.html?th

The article basically says the Yankees are losing money as of late, especially as they break $210M in 2005 player salaries. It's not exactly good news for the rest of MLB, since the article says that it's all a calculated move to make the team more valuable in the long-term. But their having to take large loans is mildly surprising.

Also, I can't help but wonder if building a new stadium will really bring in that much cash. I know for other teams it's been a boon, but the Stadium gets so many visitors because of its history, plus it already is very large, accomodating a huge number of fans compared to many other parks. I can't see it having the same kind of spikes that Baltimore or Colorado got.

Anyhow I find this all very interesting. Feel free to relocate if it's too off-topic for this thread.

General ticket sales I doubt will get a long term boon for a new yankee stadium, but I bet they could build practically the entire stadium out of Luxury Boxes and make a trillion dollars. Think about all the businesses in New York wanting to have a luxury box for schmoozing purposes.

Well, Clemens just got $18 mil--and you can chalk that up directly
to RJ getting 2/$32 mil.
Just another example of how the New York teams are the worst salary inflators
in sports. Especially baseball.
The Players Union best friend.
And fans' nightmare--since the fans ultimately pay the bill.
Cable TV or tickets.

hytem, the more important thing is he overtook Pedro's record salary of last year. Just one more swipe between two former soxers.

Yes, in 1986, I envisioned that the NEXT two Sox aces would one day be the two highest paid pitchers in baseball, yet somehow pitch two generations apart.

Wow.

My thoughts exactly MALC

My Randy Johnson dream:
First loss. At the Stadium. To Boston hopefully. Or anyone.

An assclown NY ("insert tabloid name here") reporter asks something about the rivalry, and today's loss's signifigance.

Johnson sneers and gives a butthole, non-media friendly response.

Crowd gets restless.

A few more assholic questions get asked.

Randy goes all Chad Pennington, except on the superstar degree level, the internal "I don't need to take this shit" level.

Chaos ensues, RJ storms off purpley, press conference over, and the "media frenzy" begins.

RJ is hated by the piously disrespected press in a town he really didn't want to be in anyway (apparently, from his first press conference comments- the one that's supposed-to-be-so-happy signing press conference)- remember? ("I coulda signed here in '98, food for thought...")

and then he just can't really find that "inner switch" out there.

After all, the money is guaranteed, and because of the extension requirement he demanded, there won't be another free agent "walk year".

Relish the possibilities.

Who on the Yankee staff could come close to having any containment leverage, even all the way to George?

Not unless he's additionally skilled in the French Arts