Everyone knows by now that the New York Yankees decided to ditch to "lower the payroll" stance yesterday afternoon by signing 1Bman Mark Teixeira to an 8 year $180 million contract, with a full no trade clause. Why do you add the no trade clause? Is it to tell everyone that he will be an untradeable commodity due to his huge contract? The deal, along with the signing of CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, helps the Yankees replace the loss of Mike Mussina, Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi.
The repercussions of this signing will directly impact the market values of Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez. It was reported yesterday afternoon that the Mets were "deep in discussions" with Derek Lowe, but no contract has been offered. I have to think the Red Sox will try to deflect the blow of losing out on Mark Teixeira by signing Lowe. This has played right into exactly what Scott Boras wanted-to revive the market for Derek Lowe. Prior to yesterday's Teixeira news, it was thought, and widely reported by ESPN's Buster Olney, that the market for Lowe had dropped by a third. I can see Boras playing the Red Sox vs. the Mets in the chase for Lowe, resulting in his market value getting closer to Barry Zito money.
So the Yankees signing of Teixeira will probably benefit the market for Lowe. On the other hand, it has dealt a direct blow to the market value for Manny Ramirez.. Not only are the Yankees probably out of the Ramirez chase, but so are the Anaheim Angels, if you can believe GM Tony Reagins. And you can add the Mets to the teams that will not be bidding on Manny, as Omar Minaya has failed to convince the fraud-stricken Wilpons to approve signing Manny.
So what teams will be in on Manny? Obviously the Dodgers, but GM Ned Colletti seems willing to wait for the market to come to him...and it appears it has. The Washington Nationals may also turn their focus to signing Manny, but they also have more than enough outfielders, especially after signing Corey Patterson yesterday. A few baseball writers have written that Manny may have to "crawl back to the Dodgers". Last I checked, the Dodgers are the only team that has offered him a contract. The big question is, if his market value has decreased, do you want to sign an unhappy Manny after what he pulled in Boston. I think offering him a one year deal, basically an arbitration offer-say one year for $25 million, makes the most sense. This would allow him to become a free agent in 2009, which is apparently a weak free agent class outside of Matt Holliday, and Manny has the incentive to bust his butt for one more year with this deal.
But, there was word last evening that the Yankees may be ready to move on from signing Andy Pettite. Is this a sign that the Yankees may still be in on Manny Ramirez?