The Yanks are all over this offseason’s transaction market throwing wallets hither and thither—but are they being caught by the right players?
They have been doing this a long time and haven’t much to show for it with their last title back in 1951 and only two postseason appearances since then.
Compare them with their top foe over at Fenway, who seem perennially in contention and yet don’t feature prominently here.
Here are the major transactions from the break:
1B Ken Phelps: Yankees, 5 years / $21.7m / AAV $4.34m
OF Kevin McReynolds: Cubs, 5 years / $21.2m / AAV $4.24m
P Tim Leary: Cardinals, 3 years / $12.2m / AAV $4.08m
2B Glenn Hubbard: Yankees, 4 years / $14.0m / AAV $3.49m
OF Brett Butler: Padres, 4 years / $12.8m / AAV $3.20m
OF Andre Dawson: Reds, 3 years / $8.6m / AAV $2.88m
OF Phil Bradley: Yankees, 4 years / $11.4m / AAV $2.84m
OF Jim Dwyer: Blue Jays, 3 years / $7.6m / AAV $2.52m
OF George Bell: Brewers, 3 years / $7.4m / AAV $2.48m
3B Buddy Bell: Yankees, 1 year / $2.5m / AAV $2.48m
P Mike Moore: Astros, 3 years / $7.1m / AAV $2.36m
C Lance Parrish: Cubs, 1 year / $2.3m / AAV $2.32m
2B Tim Teufel: Braves, 2 years / $4.5m / AAV $2.24m
P Danny Jackson: Tigers, 3 years / $6.6m / AAV $2.20m
P Bryn Smith: Giants, 5 years / $10.6m / AAV $2.12m
P Scott Sanderson: Tigers, 1 year / $2.1m / AAV $2.08m
P Rick Honeycutt: Orioles, 1 year / $1.9m / AAV $1.94m
OF Dion James: Phillies, 3 years / $5.4m / AAV $1.79m
P Ron Guidry: Mets, 1 year / $1.8m / AAV $1.78m
OF Lonnie Smith: Royals, 2 years / $1.6m / AAV $3.12m
P Dennis Martinez: Cubs, 1 year / $1.7m / AAV $1.68m
C Tony Pena: Reds, 1 year / $1.6m / AAV $1.58m
1B Randy Bush: Angels, 3 years / $4.6m / AAV $1.52m
P Bobby Witt from Red Sox to Phillies for C Ozzie Virgil and P Ed Correa
1B Wally Joyner from Orioles to White Sox for P Danny Cox
P Greg Harris and OF Stan Javier from Tigers to White Sox for OF Jerry Mumphrey (retaining 60%)
C Ron Hassey and SS Kevin Elster from Tigers to Braves for 2B Kurt Stilwell
OF Bo Jackson and SS Luis Rivera from Mets to Braves for P Steve Howe
P Ron Robinson from Expos to Mets for 2B Mark McLemore, SS Andres Thomas and P John Habyan
P Terry Mulholland from Mariners to Dodgers for P Charlie Leibrandt (retaining 25%)
SS Shawon Dunston from Mariners to Dodgers for SS Craig Reynolds (retaining 90%) and 3B Eddie Williams
2B Tony Phillips from Blue Jays to White Sox for P Scott Gardner
C Damon Berryhill and P Ricky Rojas from Mets to Padres for P Jeff Lahti
OF Chili Davis from Astros to White Sox for SS Walt Weiss
We go 11-7 in Spring Training with just a niggle or two but go into OD at full strength.
BNN are predicting a Boston blowout in the AL East but super close races in the other three divisions, including us narrowly seeing off the Cubs.
Oakland loses Tim Belcher for most of the season with some elbow problems, while a fracture of the same body part will sideline Angels 2B Robby Thompson for 5 months or so.
