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On the Block

Yanks spend $429 million to bring All-Stars to the Bronx

In light of the recent events involving Alex Rodriguez, I think it’s appropriate to discuss the Yankees’ numerous offseason transactions.

After missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993, the Yankees are giving themselves no excuses for their debut season at the new Yankee Stadium.

Spending $429 million over the course of a few months, it seems that the Yanks set out to buy a championship.

In December, their first big addition was C.C. Sabathia who signed one of the richest contracts in baseball history: seven years, $161 million.

Next came A.J. Burnett receiving $82.5 million for five years, revamping the Yanks pitching rotation.

Last season, the lefty and righty combined for 35 wins and neither is yet 32 years old. C.C. threw the most pitches in the majors last

Then came Mark Teixeira with an eight-year $180 million deal on December 23. Not only does this move help the Yankees both offensively and defensively, but it hurts the Red Sox (a top priority), who had been the front runner up until about four hours before he signed with New York.

Andy Pettitte has returned to the Bronx, for one year and $5.5 million, with a chance to make $12 million in incentives. His return to the Yanks rotation will provide newcomers with a veteran presence that can withstand the pressure that comes with wearing pinstripes.

Nice Christmas gift, huh?

Yankee haters say that the team is stock full of All-Stars who will crumble under the weight of expectations and who will not be capable of gelling as a team.

Are the haters right? Are the Yankees doomed? What will result from Joe Torre’s new book? A-Rod’s steroid issue? The David Ortiz jersey unearthed from the concrete beneath the new Yankee Stadium? Or has Brian Cashman put together such a formidable team that it will crush any opposition that comes its way and will win the franchise’s 27th World Series championship?

I know Yankees fans wish for the latter, but only time will tell…