[rwperu34]

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The yankees can spend the money almost as effectively now

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This is where we have the disconnect. I don't see how the Yankees can spend $25MM-$35MM for the near future as effectively as they can on A-Rod.

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These are my thoughts, condensed [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

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Lowell + Hunter will cost about $30m per year. Lowell better defense offsets some of the lost offense, Hunters better defense and offense over Melky gives you the rest. And you can sign Lowell for four years and Hunter for probably five or six, giving you much less risk and more flexibility, i.e. More than $100m remaining to spend on another free agent like Santana during A-Rods least valuable years. Plus you the get A draft picks for A-Rod and can use Melky as trade bait.

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FOr 29 other teams, this is sound reasoning. For the Yankees, there is nothing to preclude them from signing A-Rod AND Hunter. Then they could either trade Melky or let him be the 4th OF. That would make Damon the most expenisive 5th OF in baseball, and the Yankees would still have monies left over to trade for/sign Santana in 2007/2008 AND Miguel Cabrera 2008/2009!