Yankee Contracts – Should New York Rebuild or Re-Up?

This team is a cautionary tale.

Long term, big name contracts in baseball are just not worth it, and I'm not suggesting the Moneyball approach is the way to go. It made for a nice movie, but ask the Oakland A's what it feels like to exit the playoffs in the first round every year.

The Yankees sold their soul in the mid to late 2000's with the long term, high dollar signings of Alex Rodriguez, Mark Texiera and CC Sabathia. Yeah, it bought them the 2009 World Series, but is one title worth the long term damage that has caused? If you asked a Cubs fan, they would say hell yeah, but I am not a Cubs fan. I'm a Yankee fan.

Even with all these contracts expiring soon - A-Rod, CC, Tex, Beltran - it's only going to get worse before it gets better. You have to rebuild, and do it now. I know the term "rebuild" is sacrilegious in New York, but it needs to be done. Trying to add more fading stars and firepower over the next few years will keep this team in the basement for the next 20 years.

Firing Brian Cashman is not the answer either. He seems to understand the reality, and wants to build for the future. My only hope is that Yankee fans will be patient enough to allow him to do it. That, however, is like asking a dog with bacon at his feet not to eat it. Good luck to us all.