Magus Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 Yankees to break $200 million barrier; in New York, that's chump change By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports WriterJanuary 1, 2005NEW YORK (AP) -- There appear to be few, if any, limits to what the Yankees can afford, the reason they can add Randy Johnson and perhaps Carlos Beltran to their firmament of stars. Then again, money is no object when you play in a city where apartments sell for $44 million, nursery schools can command $24,000, and dinner for two at a top restaurant can cost $1,000. New York's acquisition of Randy Johnson from Arizona, which is likely to be completed next week, will boost the Yankees' payroll to about $205 million, easily topping the major league record of $187.9 million they set in 2004. The Yankees, with a bottomless pit of cash and, some would say, arrogance, must pay a $25 million luxury tax for last season -- about $600,000 more than Tampa Bay's entire payroll. ADVERTISEMENTOwner George Steinbrenner certainly doesn't mind spending as long as the World Series flag flies above his ballpark. Problem is, it hasn't since 2000. But that hasn't stopped him. ``When you accept big money from Mr. Steinbrenner,'' first baseman Tino Martinez said, ``you have to win.'' Martinez, who helped the Yankees win four World Series titles and five American League pennants from 1996-01, rejoined the team Friday as a backup to Jason Giambi. He knows how Yankees fans view last season's team, which was an inning away from sweeping Boston in the AL championship series only to become the first major league team to squander a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series. ``They came up short, they failed,'' Martinez said bluntly. ``They have to win a world championship. That's what they're there for.'' New York and Arizona finalized paperwork Friday for the Johnson trade and plan to submit it Monday to commissioner Bud Selig for approval. The Yankees are sending the Diamondbacks pitcher Javier Vazquez, prospects Brad Halsey and Dioner Navarro and $9 million. As part of the deal, they want a 72-hour window to discuss a contract extension for Johnson, a 41-year-old left-hander who has won five Cy Young Awards. The Yankees' economics are far different from those of every other major league team. Their box seats near the infield will go for $90 a game next year. Of course, that's peanuts and Cracker Jacks for the city's well-heeled baseball fans. For many New Yorkers, money really is no obstacle. For example, this week at Zabar's, a famous West Side food emporium, there was an express line just for caviar. At Citarella, another mecca for gourmands, white truffles were going for $199 an ounce. Fans of cabaret singer Bobby Short pay a $95 cover charge before he ever tickles the ivories or a single drink is poured at Cafe Carlyle. Those numbers are infinitesimal when compared to Manhattan's booming real-estate prices. According to Halstead's third-quarter survey, the average sale price of a small two-bedroom apartment was $963,127 in the third quarter. The average for a large two-bedroom was $1,277,401. Perhaps the most incredible example of all: News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch is in the process of buying a three-floor Fifth Avenue apartment from the late Laurance S. Rockefeller's estate and will pay $44 million in cash -- no mortgages allowed. That tops the record $42.25 million businessman David Martinez paid when he bought two condominium units to combine them into one at the Time Warner Center. The Yankees had revenues of roughly $315 million in 2004, taking in about $130 million from ticket sales alone. Boston, which had the No. 2 payroll at $130 million, estimated its revenue at $220 million. Yankees manager Joe Torre, as well as Yankees fans, know that after he plucks these stars from other teams, Steinbrenner readies himself for the new season by thinking about 162 wins, 0 losses, and postseason sweeps all the way through the World Series. Anything less is a failure. ``When you work for George Steinbrenner,'' Torre said, ``whether you're the favorite or you're not the favorite, you're expected to win.'' No matter the price.Updated on Saturday, Jan 1, 2005 1:57 am EST Email to a Friend | View Popular Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEAD! Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 Say what you will about George, he really puts much of that money back into his team. When you consider the price of certain things in Manhattan, going to Yankees game is actually a bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthMan Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 DAMN YANKEES!!!they should be taxed at a 100 % rate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintsfan Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 How long can the Yankees go on spending at not winning it all though? Its been a while after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEAD! Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 DAMN YANKEES!!!they should be taxed at a 100 % rate By the same token, the Red Sox should as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanB06 Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 DAMN YANKEES!!!they should be taxed at a 100 % rate By the same token, the Red Sox should as well The Red Sox don't spend like the Yankees do, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaolinaJoe Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 How long can the Yankees go on spending at not winning it all though? Its been a while after all. As long as people keep buying those $90 box seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclopsis Joe Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 Well it just goes to show..money can't buy happiness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTank Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 and the more they dont win the more George will spend so the only way to slow this down is if the Yankees actually win, so George does not feel the need to add more and more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclopsis Joe Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 No..we want Georgy-Boy to go bankrupt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheateater Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 and the more they dont win the more George will spend so the only way to slow this down is if the Yankees actually win, so George does not feel the need to add more and more. Satan--uh, I mean--Steinbrenner will keep spending even if he wins. That's why the Yankees payroll has risen every year over the last decade. Winning doesn't stop him, so I don't know what will.And BTW, with all his other business interests and TV contracts and the like, George will never go bankrupt.....unless I rob him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFoA Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 and the more they dont win the more George will spend so the only way to slow this down is if the Yankees actually win, so George does not feel the need to add more and more. And BTW, with all his other business interests and TV contracts and the like, George will never go bankrupt.....unless I rob him... ...sounds like a plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheateater Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 And BTW, with all his other business interests and TV contracts and the like, George will never go bankrupt.....unless I rob him... ...sounds like a plan Wanna drive the getaway car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFoA Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Sure. What a plan, you knock him over the head with a brick, get the vault, then we drive away in the Honda Accord Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheateater Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Hope you got a trailer on that thing 'cuz we're gonna need a lot of cargo room if we plan on looting everything from him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budbowl77 Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 those of you who dont root for the Yankees are only jealous because your club doesnt have an owner like George. George Stienbrenner wants to win. and its not his fault when he writes the luxury tax check the money sent to the other clubs isnt used to improve the other teams. it doesnt make stienbrenner look greedy when hes giving welfare payments to other teams. the owners of the royals, twins etc..only pocket the money given to them. so wheres the greed? It pisses me off when everyone calls stienbrenner satan makes him out to be the bad guy of baseball, when all he does is have a driving force, that force is he wants to win,and win very badly. I dont blame him. I dont blame him for wanting to avenge the loss to boston this season. I dont blame him for doing what it takes. But anyway, were gonna win the series this year. our lineup is stellar..the pitching staff is stellar and no one can even come close. GO YANKEES!!GOTTA LOVE THE BRONX! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEAD! Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Whoa! Whoa! Hold on there. People who don't root for the Yankees have their reasons and often, I believe, it's not because of jealousy. There are people who love their team more than hating the Yankees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 $25 million in luxury taxes. What a joke. That works out to under $1 million... or about the amount George Steinbrenner spends a week on toilet paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosox Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Whoa! Whoa! Hold on there. People who don't root for the Yankees have their reasons and often, I believe, it's not because of jealousy. There are people who love their team more than hating the Yankees. Exactly. Not every fan in the world is out to get the Yankees. There are alot of Yankees fans who think that, and its crap.Anyways, if the $200 million can win them what he wants, its fine. I don't care. His money, he can do what he wants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiddySicks Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Whoa! Whoa! Hold on there. People who don't root for the Yankees have their reasons and often, I believe, it's not because of jealousy. There are people who love their team more than hating the Yankees. Exactly. Not every fan in the world is out to get the Yankees. There are alot of Yankees fans who think that, and its crap.Anyways, if the $200 million can win them what he wants, its fine. I don't care. His money, he can do what he wants. i think every fan of every team has some sort of complaint. wether its a dodgers fan bitching about bonds using steroids, or a red sox or cubs fan, whining about the curse, or an A's fan crying about lack of payroll. or expos fans complainng about not understanding their logo. i think even yankees fans bitch and whine and complain, and in their case their complaint is that everyone is out to get them. its just part of sports. i mean think about it, how many times have we all had some complaint or another about our team? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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