Yankees 2010-2011 Hotstove Thread

[SoxFanForsyth]

Which areas need much more addressing than the bullpen? It's basically the starting rotation, and there really aren't any worthwhile options out there that would offer security in the back-end of their rotation, so shortening games and securing leads that the rotation does give them seems logical to me.

 

Also, they have 20 MM left to spend. They have enough money to do whatever they want. The move makes sense.

 

So, shortening 60 games a year for $12mm and a draft pick seems logical to you?

 

There are plenty of options out there that would be much better than Nova or Mitre. The Yankees have 60% of their starts this year coming from three pitchers who together posted a 5.24 ERA last year.

 

I guarantee you that Carl Pavano would do better than Mitre at the back of the rotation.

 

And by the way - your opinions lack any sort of consistency. You don't like Crawford, an everyday player who score over 100 runs a year for at least 5 or 6 of his 7 year contract for 20mm/year, but you DO like Soriano, a 60 to 70 inning pitcher, for $12mm.

 

Explain that.

[Divinity]

They're actually in the $450mm range, but it doesn't matter.

 

I would go on about the increase in payroll and luxury taxes eventually affecting the future of the organization, but that's getting way out of the element of the $12mm that is being paid to Soriano.

 

My whole point is, this seems like Cashman is making a move just to make a move because he had money burning in his pocket and saw someone that, while he helps the team, really doesn't do too much.

 

Previous documents from the bond financing revealed that the Yankees earned just $52 million in ticket and suite revenues in 1997. By 2005, ticket and suite revenue had reached $157 million. By the time the team had financed the bonds in 2007, projections for ticket and suite revenue for the first full season in Yankee Stadium was $253 million.

 

Its unknown exactly how much the team profited due a variety of line items, which are not public, including how much they were required to pay in revenue sharing, but industry insiders tell CNBC that the Yankees' total business now approaches $600 million in annual revenues.

 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/38046122

 

I don't see how the increase in payroll and luxury taxes are going to affect this organization

[Dipre]

My opinion doesn't lack consistency, don't be stupid. The Yankees don't have budgetary concerns like everyone else in baseball. If the Sox threw 11 mill at a reliever i'd probably have a heart attack right then and there, because they're not the f***ing Yankees. Do you follow baseball at all?

 

And by the way,do your research, this wasn't a Cashman move, but an ownership move, you know, the people that handle the money, proving yet again that they just don't give a f*** about spending money. They simply have no limit and will stretch the budget as needed. My problem with your opinion is that you are being a homer, and are looking for ways to criticize the Yankees for looking for ways to improve their ballclub when there really aren't many other options available. They do so by abusing the systeam, but so do the Sox to a certain extent.

 

And also, Carl Pavano back to the Yankees? Let me re-ask you: Do you follow baseball at all?

[Spudboy]

Isn't Paps due to receive in the $11-12. mil range this year?

 

I think paying ANY reliever starting pitcher money is just insane.

 

$12. mil. should get you 25-33 starts and 170-210 innings.

 

$12. mil. for 60-70 innings????

 

Not on a team I would run.

 

End of rant.

[Dipre]

Isn't Paps due to receive in the $11-12. mil range this year?

 

I think paying ANY reliever starting pitcher money is just insane.

 

$12. mil. should get you 25-33 starts and 170-210 innings.

 

$12. mil. for 60-70 innings????

 

Not on a team I would run.

 

End of rant.

 

It may not be that bad for closers, but 11 million on a set-up man is out-of-this-world crazy. However, it's the Yankees. They will spend that and more and suffer no repercussions from it, no matter how you try to twist the truth. They have the money, the system doesn't have a hard cap, and they will abuse the system.

 

The problem is, that us, as Sox fans, no longer have the moral standing to complain after this year's spending spree. Sure, it came after a number of high-profile FA's left the club, but goddamn.

[SoxFanForsyth]

My opinion doesn't lack consistency, don't be stupid. The Yankees don't have budgetary concerns like everyone else in baseball. If the Sox threw 11 mill at a reliever i'd probably have a heart attack right then and there, because they're not the f***ing Yankees. Do you follow baseball at all?

 

And by the way,do your research, this wasn't a Cashman move, but an ownership move, you know, the people that handle the money, proving yet again that they just don't give a f*** about spending money. They simply have no limit and will stretch the budget as needed. My problem with your opinion is that you are being a homer, and are looking for ways to criticize the Yankees for looking for ways to improve their ballclub when there really aren't many other options available. They do so by abusing the systeam, but so do the Sox to a certain extent.

 

And also, Carl Pavano back to the Yankees? Let me re-ask you: Do you follow baseball at all?

 

Yeah that's a good question. Do I follow baseball at all. Seriously man. Good question.

 

So you would freak out if the Sox spent $5mm more on a reliever than they did with Jenks? Really? Do you understand finances at all? That is literally a 3% increase in their total payroll expenditures. Give me a break dude. That's not consistent.

 

Just because the Yankees can throw money at people doesn't mean that they need to. I have said, from the get go, that I didn't understand this move because it seemed like it was just spending money to spend money. If they got Soriano for 3/15 or something like that, I would understand it. But 3/36, with opt out clauses, and a draft pick, just to sign a reliever when they already have a solid bullpen? Please, I know the Yankees shell out more money than anyone, but nobody outside of a closer role deserves 12mm a year.

 

And Pavano, before hurting his shoulder in 2006, went 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA with the Yankees. He got hurt quite a bit, but has since started 55 games over the past 2 seasons, going 31 - 23 with a 4.39 ERA.

 

That's already better than their number 3 starter went last year. Pavano doesn't have to be an ace, all he has to do is be a number 4 man.

 

Tell him and the Yankees to get over their differences and just play baseball.

 

And I don't know where you get this egotistical overvaluation of yourself, but you are probably the most arrogant and narcissistic poster on this board.

 

You're not right about everything, regardless of how you feel, and there is no reason to try to patronize the people who disagree with you.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

The popcorn is ready.

[example1]

I don't really like the Soriano move for the Yankees. It will probably make them a better club (anyone would benefit from adding a guy like Soriano) but it will happen at the expense of their team over the longrun, while ALSO boosting another team in the same division with another draft pick.

 

I don't see a lot of value-added for the Yankees in this move. He's a great pitcher, but he has an injury history and he's about to be paid almost what JD Drew makes... or what guys like Lester and Pedroia etc., will make when their current deals max out.

 

His best season amount to two (2!!) WAR. That's not because he's bad but because his place on the team is inherently less significant than starting pitchers or starting fielders/batters. I don't hate the move for the Yankees, I just think it resembles the yankees of 2005 more than what I thought they would be in 2011. They've gotten better at not just throwing money (and draft picks) at the problem, until they become even slightly desperate. Then they throw prudence and patience out the window and just get the guy they feel they need.

 

This is a splash move to get Jacko (and his fan-type) to be happy.

 

Anyone who thought Tampa was going away after losing their stars better think again. I believe this team now has picks # 24, 31, 32, 38, 50, 54, and 57 in the 2011 draft. That's a lot of picks.

 

 

Also, anyone else wondering what Papelbon is thinking about right now? Yankees have their bullpen set for a few years, Sox acquired Jenks and have leverage. Paps is looking longingly at Anaheim and hoping he can end up in a place like that. Maybe he would do a reasonable extension now... ya, right!

[italstallianion]

Yeah that's a good question. Do I follow baseball at all. Seriously man. Good question.

 

So you would freak out if the Sox spent $5mm more on a reliever than they did with Jenks? Really? Do you understand finances at all? That is literally a 3% increase in their total payroll expenditures. Give me a break dude. That's not consistent.

 

Just because the Yankees can throw money at people doesn't mean that they need to. I have said, from the get go, that I didn't understand this move because it seemed like it was just spending money to spend money. If they got Soriano for 3/15 or something like that, I would understand it. But 3/36, with opt out clauses, and a draft pick, just to sign a reliever when they already have a solid bullpen? Please, I know the Yankees shell out more money than anyone, but nobody outside of a closer role deserves 12mm a year.

 

And Pavano, before hurting his shoulder in 2006, went 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA with the Yankees. He got hurt quite a bit, but has since started 55 games over the past 2 seasons, going 31 - 23 with a 4.39 ERA.

 

That's already better than their number 3 starter went last year. Pavano doesn't have to be an ace, all he has to do is be a number 4 man.

 

Tell him and the Yankees to get over their differences and just play baseball.

 

And I don't know where you get this egotistical overvaluation of yourself, but you are probably the most arrogant and narcissistic poster on this board.

You're not right about everything, regardless of how you feel, and there is no reason to try to patronize the people who disagree with you.

 

 

That's not really fair though, since everyone that's more arrogant than Dipre has already been banned.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't really like the Soriano move for the Yankees. It will probably make them a better club (anyone would benefit from adding a guy like Soriano) but it will happen at the expense of their team over the longrun, while ALSO boosting another team in the same division with another draft pick.

 

I don't see a lot of value-added for the Yankees in this move. He's a great pitcher, but he has an injury history and he's about to be paid almost what JD Drew makes... or what guys like Lester and Pedroia etc., will make when their current deals max out.

 

His best season amount to two (2!!) WAR. That's not because he's bad but because his place on the team is inherently less significant than starting pitchers or starting fielders/batters. I don't hate the move for the Yankees, I just think it resembles the yankees of 2005 more than what I thought they would be in 2010. They've gotten better at not just throwing money (and draft picks) at the problem, until they become even slightly desperate. Then they throw prudence and patiene out the window and just get the guy they feel they need.

 

This is a splash move to get Jacko (and his fan-type) to be happy.

 

Anyone who thought Tampa was going away after losing their stars better think again. I believe this team now has picks # 24, 31, 32, 38, 50, 54, and 57 in the 2011 draft. That's a lot of picks.

 

 

Also, anyone else wondering what Papelbon is thinking about right now? Yankees have their bullpen set for a few years, Sox acquired Jenks and have leverage. Paps is looking longingly at Anaheim and hoping he can end up in a place like that. Maybe he would do a reasonable extension now... ya, right!

 

Scioscia saw how the Angels handled Pap in the 09 ALDS.

 

Pap is going to take a big paycut and sign a 1 year deal to pull a Beltre and build up his worth in the NL next year.

[example1]

[/b]

 

Scioscia saw how the Angels handled Pap in the 09 ALDS.

 

Pap is going to take a big paycut and sign a 1 year deal to pull a Beltre and build up his worth in the NL next year.

 

He's never going to get what he thought he would get a few years ago. AT BEST he will sign a deal like Soriano's someplace, but that will take a really successful season and a desperate team. That also wouldn't flip the world of closer contracts on their heads, the way he hoped it would.

[Dipre]

Logic lesson 101:

 

The Yankees do not have budgetary concerns, therefore, spending exorbitant amounts of money do not bring them negative repercussions on future acquisitions. The real downfall of the Soriano acquisition lies in the 1st round pick, but money is not a problem, and if you follow baseball (hence the question) you'd know that it has been this way with the Yankees for years. They can afford Soriano, Petitte (if he wants to return) and a big contract like Carpenter's without flinching. And no manner of foot-stomping or telling yourself otherwise will alter this fact.

 

On Pavano: Because of the way things ended with the Yankees, do you really think they would go back to attempt and sign Pavano, or, for that matter, with the amount of negative publicity Pavano got from the Yankees, would he sign with them? "Get over their differences and play baseball" is not how it works on the real world. Sorry.

 

By the way, Pavano's not a good fit for that team or stadium anyways.

 

On to the Red Sox, who dropped 6 million on Jenks, not only to secure themselves against possible ineffectiveness from Papelbon, but to fix an actual problem. Not to mention that comparing Jenks' contract to Soriano's is stupid, because one is making twice as much money as the other.

 

And yes, i am a narcissist, i love to look at myself in the mirror and say "Damn, that's hot!".

 

But at least i'm not a homer. Homers piss me off, because they try to twist the truth in order to justify the logical fallacy of their opinions.

 

/endrant.

[Dipre]

My question is , what does it mean for Cashman that the higher-ups are once again overriding his authority?

 

Money-wise, this means nothing for them, but it directly interferes with their new-found player development approach which had been paying significant dividends.

 

If they start going for a strict "win-now" approach again, they're going to get burned by the current market because teams are locking up elite talent through their prime years at a historic rate (since FA started).

[SoxFanForsyth]

Logic lesson 101:

 

The Yankees do not have budgetary concerns, therefore, spending exorbitant amounts of money do not bring them negative repercussions on future acquisitions. The real downfall of the Soriano acquisition lies in the 1st round pick, but money is not a problem, and if you follow baseball (hence the question) you'd know that it has been this way with the Yankees for years. They can afford Soriano, Petitte (if he wants to return) and a big contract like Carpenter's without flinching. And no manner of foot-stomping or telling yourself otherwise will alter this fact.

 

On Pavano: Because of the way things ended with the Yankees, do you really think they would go back to attempt and sign Pavano, or, for that matter, with the amount of negative publicity Pavano got from the Yankees, would he sign with them? "Get over their differences and play baseball" is not how it works on the real world. Sorry.

 

By the way, Pavano's not a good fit for that team or stadium anyways.

 

On to the Red Sox, who dropped 6 million on Jenks, not only to secure themselves against possible ineffectiveness from Papelbon, but to fix an actual problem. Not to mention that comparing Jenks' contract to Soriano's is stupid, because one is making twice as much money as the other.

 

And yes, i am a narcissist, i love to look at myself in the mirror and say "Damn, that's hot!".

 

But at least i'm not a homer. Homers piss me off, because they try to twist the truth in order to justify the logical fallacy of their opinions.

 

/endrant.

 

Twice as much money DOESN'T MATTER! It's the percentage of money that the relief pitcher makes!

 

Do you think the Rays or Padres would feel ok paying $6mm to a set up man/potential closer? Uh. No. Because that's eating 15% of their total payroll!

 

If we were talking about Youkilis vs A Rod, I could see you calling it 2x the pay. That provides a huge gap.

 

But you saying that Soriano makes 2x Jenks, that's like me saying Ellsbury will make 2x Gardner and that's ridiculous. No, it's not. It's 500k.

 

As such, a difference of $5-6mm in relation to a $170mm+ total salary is pocket change. That's just over 3%.

 

So it's ok to pay Jenks $6mm, but if he asked for $11mm, HELL NO! That's a 3% increase on our total payroll! f*** that noise.

[Dipre]

Wait, did i not say several times that the Sox abuse the system as well?

 

The problem is that each individual "overpay" means more to the Red Sox than the Yankees because of their self-imposed "ceiling" (right around the salary cap) making certain signings prohibitive after a certain amount of money has been spent.

 

If the salary cap stands at 168 mill, and the Sox are at 160, signing Jenks for 6 million makes sense, but signing him at $11 million doesn't (also because he's not worth the money).

 

The point is that the Sox and Yankees operate under different financial parameters than most of the other teams, but the Yankees are on an island all their own. With the Sox, overspending on multiple players adds up and creates budget issues (that 3% can become 10 or 13% with a couple more players), while the Yankees can just move their "cap" a bit higher as they have been known to do in the past.

 

The Yankees are on a different spectrum of spending, and the Sox, while powerful on their own, have certain constraints that allow them to make an excess here and there, but with a limit.

 

I just don't see why this is something so difficult to acknowledge.

[jacksonianmarch]

Logic lesson 101:

 

The Yankees do not have budgetary concerns, therefore, spending exorbitant amounts of money do not bring them negative repercussions on future acquisitions. The real downfall of the Soriano acquisition lies in the 1st round pick, but money is not a problem, and if you follow baseball (hence the question) you'd know that it has been this way with the Yankees for years. They can afford Soriano, Petitte (if he wants to return) and a big contract like Carpenter's without flinching. And no manner of foot-stomping or telling yourself otherwise will alter this fact.

 

On Pavano: Because of the way things ended with the Yankees, do you really think they would go back to attempt and sign Pavano, or, for that matter, with the amount of negative publicity Pavano got from the Yankees, would he sign with them? "Get over their differences and play baseball" is not how it works on the real world. Sorry.

 

By the way, Pavano's not a good fit for that team or stadium anyways.

 

On to the Red Sox, who dropped 6 million on Jenks, not only to secure themselves against possible ineffectiveness from Papelbon, but to fix an actual problem. Not to mention that comparing Jenks' contract to Soriano's is stupid, because one is making twice as much money as the other.

 

And yes, i am a narcissist, i love to look at myself in the mirror and say "Damn, that's hot!".

 

But at least i'm not a homer. Homers piss me off, because they try to twist the truth in order to justify the logical fallacy of their opinions.

 

/endrant.

 

I think the supplemental pick went a long way to making the first rounder expendable. Plus, as long as the draft stays as is, the Yankees can continue to find great talent beyond round 1. Plus, they have really made their hay in the INTL market anyway

[SoxFanForsyth]

It's not that I don't understand the concept that the Yankees spend without regards to the salary cap or any penalties or fines that are associated with it, I completely understand that. The Yankees have made it perfectly clear every year since the threshold was instituted in 2003.

 

What I don't understand is how you think it's a logical move for the Yankees to give up a 1st round pick to a rebuilding team, plus $12mm a year for 3 years to a set up guy with opt out clauses. Even if the money isn't an issue, its not a good contract for the Yankees.

 

I'm not being a homer in this deal. I never said it didn't make them better. My entire focus has been on the contract.

 

And while it does make them better, it does not play a big enough factor that they have pulled back even with the Sox this year. A set up guy is worthless when your starting pitching leaves the game giving up 3-4 runs in 6 innings 60% of the time.

[jacksonianmarch]

Actually, if Soriano opts out and goes elsewhere, the Yankees get that 1st rounder plus a supp pick back for him. This contract shouldnt be considered in terms of draft issues, since the Rays were getting a 1st rounder for him anyways, and if Soriano went to the Angels, the Rays would have gotten a better pick than the one the Yankees are giving up

[Dipre]

I think the supplemental pick went a long way to making the first rounder expendable. Plus' date=' as long as the draft stays as is, the Yankees can continue to find great talent beyond round 1. Plus, they have really made their hay in the INTL market anyway[/quote']

 

It's a good move. I don't know how to slice it any other way.

 

With the Yanks' current financial flexibility (an understatement by the way) signing the best available reliever to shorten games after they lost their number one off-season target was the way to go. There is nothing of note in the FA market, and Pavano won't go back to the Bronx.

 

They have enough money left to bring back Petitte if he wants to, and bring in someone's overpaid pitcher at the deadline. There's simply no downside budget-wise for the move.

 

I may rag on the Yankees for their spending, but as ORS always says, they make the most money, and spend like they make the most money.

 

What do you think about ownership overriding Cashman's initial plan Jacko?

[italstallianion]

Actually' date=' if Soriano opts out and goes elsewhere, the Yankees get that 1st rounder plus a supp pick back for him. This contract shouldnt be considered in terms of draft issues, since the Rays were getting a 1st rounder for him anyways, and if Soriano went to the Angels, the Rays would have gotten a better pick than the one the Yankees are giving up[/quote']

 

 

Not to mention that the Yankees have never been known as a great drafting team, and this draft year is supposed to be really deep, and with the Yankees financial advantage, they can pay top dollar for talent later in the draft that other teams can't afford. If this was like the NBA draft where there were only 2 rounds, then I would be concerned, but not in a 50 round draft without hard slotting.

[jacksonianmarch]

Well, I think the ownership saw that Cashman's plan of patience was putting them in serious doubt for 2011. I think they weathered the Lee storm pretty well seeing as the Yanks made it to the ALCS fighting him even though a slew of issues reared their heads last yr. But once Pettitte coming back looked in doubt and there was no other conceivable option out there, you needed to do something on the pitching end. I think Cashman needs to have complete control of the team. But the FO has its reasons and getting Soriano makes this team a lot better. But I hope they can work together to keep the peace. Cashman has been a very good GM and a patient one at that. But this deal works on so many levels for all three seasons that I think it needed to get done

[SoxFanForsyth]

Actually' date=' if Soriano opts out and goes elsewhere, the Yankees get that 1st rounder plus a supp pick back for him. This contract shouldnt be considered in terms of draft issues, since the Rays were getting a 1st rounder for him anyways, and if Soriano went to the Angels, the Rays would have gotten a better pick than the one the Yankees are giving up[/quote']

 

Angels have a protected 1st round pick.

[jacksonianmarch]

Not to mention that the Yankees have never been known as a great drafting team' date=' and this draft year is supposed to be really deep, and with the Yankees financial advantage, they can pay top dollar for talent later in the draft that other teams can't afford. If this was like the NBA draft where there were only 2 rounds, then I would be concerned, but not in a 50 round draft without hard slotting.[/quote']

 

The Yankees hadn't been known as a great draft team. That's the trouble, if it involved strategy rather than just blank checks, then the Boss wasnt into it. He liked the INTL market cause he could hear a positive report, write a blank check and the guy was theirs. He hated the draft since you couldnt predict where guys would fall and then some guys wouldnt sign, and then when they did sign, a good amount still flop. I think the Yankees and the Sox have been the best drafting teams respective to position in the past 5 yrs. It is easy to point to the Royals and Rays, but when you have the #1-#5 picks every yr for a decade, it does get a whole lot easier. But the Yanks have made some very shrewd draft picks, especially on the pitching end of things. Picks do mean a lot to Cashman, but his record after the first round is second to none

[Divinity]

Rivera apparently had quite a bit to do with the Soriano signing

 

Because Mariano Rivera, for 15 years the most important cog in the machine that is the New York Yankees, has apparently saved his team once more.

 

As befitting an aging king preparing to abdicate his throne, Rivera -- according to a source with intimate knowledge of the negotiations -- chose his own successor.

 

He chose Rafael Soriano. More importantly, he convinced his bosses to choose Soriano

[Meh]

I'm ok with giving up the first rounder and they clauses. If he opts out we'll get at least a 1st rounder next year and a 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounder. The money kind of shocked me, I thought if it was a three year deal it'd be more like 31 million or 31.5 million, but meh. I just hope this sets up another move.

[a700hitter]

Lastly, this could mean a transition for Joba back into the starting rotation. We can't expect him to be a lights out starter, but it's likely that he'll be an improvement over what they currently have. This would improve the rotation, and would be a direct effect of the Soriano signing.

We heard earlier today that the Yankees could be persuaded to trade Joba Chamberlain to obtain a "viable starter," but ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand wonders why the Bombers don't just put Chamberlain back into the rotation. "Right now, Chamberlain's trade value is low," Marchand writes. "The only way to increase that is to put him in a more important role. So not only could he solve your biggest problem, he could be used to address your next one."

[a700hitter]

Anyone who thought Tampa was going away after losing their stars better think again. I believe this team now has picks # 24, 31, 32, 38, 50, 54, and 57 in the 2011 draft. That's a lot of picks.

They are going away for 2011 and 2012, unless Price and Hellickson become vintage Koufax and Drysdale in those years. I see them back in the basement in the AL East behind Baltimore and Toronto.

[BSN07]

If most of TB's addition to the roster bomb, then yes they will be at the bottom. I expect most of them to be at least league average. So I don't see why some believe they are just going to fall off a cliff. TB, Baltimore and Toronto all have some reason to be positive going forward. Non of them are pushovers. And the more I think about it, the more I think a low 90's win total might take the division this season.

[diony]

The Yankees hadn't been known as a great draft team. That's the trouble' date=' if it involved strategy rather than just blank checks, then the Boss wasnt into it. He liked the INTL market cause he could hear a positive report, write a blank check and the guy was theirs. He hated the draft since you couldnt predict where guys would fall and then some guys wouldnt sign, and then when they did sign, a good amount still flop. I think the Yankees and the Sox have been the best drafting teams respective to position in the past 5 yrs. It is easy to point to the Royals and Rays, but when you have the #1-#5 picks every yr for a decade, it does get a whole lot easier. But the Yanks have made some very shrewd draft picks, especially on the pitching end of things. Picks do mean a lot to Cashman, but his record after the first round is second to none[/quote']

 

Agreed. Top-5 far system in baseball by drafting 30+ on the first round.

[SoxFanForsyth]

If most of TB's addition to the roster bomb' date=' then yes they will be at the bottom. I expect most of them to be at least league average. So I don't see why some believe they are just going to fall off a cliff. TB, Baltimore and Toronto all have some reason to be positive going forward. Non of them are pushovers. And the more I think about it, the more I think a low 90's win total might take the division this season.[/quote']

 

So, I don't want to make any assumptions, but just by using reasoning which is often inaccurate, are you saying that the 2011 Rays are going to be better than the 2010 Red Sox?

 

The reason that I ask this is because last year, looking from the Rays and Yankees perspective, there were 3 very strong teams in the AL East, and the Jays were no pushover whatsoever, going 85-77 last year. Yet, to win the division, it still took 96 wins, and the Yanks came up short by winning 95.

 

I'm not saying that the division got weaker by any means, but it's going to be tough for the Jays to win 85 again, and it seems to me that the Rays and Sox just kind of swapped places. If the Rays win 88-90 this season, they'll be doing well. Their bullpen only lost 16 games last year (1st in the AL, tied for 2nd in the MLB). You can expect, after losing Benoit, Balfour, and Soriano, that the relief pitching in TB is going to be weaker, and probably will result in about 18-20 losses. Add the loss of Crawford and Garza, and I'd say 88-90 is about right.

 

The biggest addition to the East is that the Orioles, under Buck, are a much improved team, and Matusz and Weiters could break out this year. Matusz could dominate the Sox this year as a lefty.