Just How Much of an Upgrade Are CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett?
beyondtheboxscore.com 12/16/2008 — In 2008, the Yankees were 7th in the AL in runs scored, 8th in ERA, and 25th in baseball in defensive efficiency. So how do the Yankees choose to solve these problems? By throwing $250 million at the top two free agent starters on the market.  ...

The start of something big?
northjersey.com 12/11/2008 — LAS VEGAS Want to talk about a real bailout? The Yankees are emptying their treasury to rescue themselves. CC Sabathia has been promised $161 million, and apparently the dollar orgy is just getting started. With a five-year, $85 million offer to ...

Prospectus Hit and Run: Back to the Future? by Jay Jaffe
baseballprospectus.com 12/13/2008 — The Yankees lay down a big bet that A.J. Burnett won`t burn them as badly as the class of `04.

Atlanta Braves potentially chasing AJ Burnett
blog.nj.com 12/4/2008 — The Braves reached a tentative agreement to acquire Javier Vasquez from the White Sox in exchange for a package of prospects. There are also substantial rumors regarding the Braves' interest in free agent AJ Burnett. Mark Feinsand reports the club...

If Sabathia signs elsewhere, the Yankees have no one to blame but themselves
nybaseballdigest.com 12/1/2008 — Recent reports suggest that the Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and even the San Francisco Giants are now in the hunt for highly coveted free agent pitcher CC Sabathia, with the Angels being the most likely to offer a big enough ...

The New York Yankees are back to spending big bucks - and that's good
nj.com 12/11/2008 — Kevin Hauck/The Associated PressNo more penny-pinching for the Yanks. When CC Sabathia balked at coming to New York, the Yanks simply offered him more money. LAS VEGAS--That's more like it. The Yankees are the Yankees again. No more talk of...

Yankee Signings Reek of Desperation
bleacherreport.com 12/14/2008 — After missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, the Yankees appear desperate. First, they gave CC Sabathia—listed by the Brewers as 311 pounds—the largest-ever contract for a pitcher. And then they gave AJ Burnett—who ...

Running the Opt Out
futilityinfielder.com 12/12/2008 — The Hardball Times' Dave Studeman took issue with my take on CC Sabathia's opt-out clause: Jay Jaffe responds to Keith Law's opinion about opt-out clauses, saying that he doesn't think they're a bad idea. Let's be clear about this: opt-out clauses ...

The Potential Yankees Super-Rotation
fangraphs.com 12/12/2008 — Yesterday, the New York Yankees signed CC Sabathia to a 7-yr deal worth approximately $161 mil. With a +5.5 win projection for 2009, and the more realistic $4.8 mil/win given the current economy, Sabathia’s fair market value would have been ...

Yanks Being Cautious With New Arms
slidingintohome.blogspot.com 12/28/2008 — From Pete Caldera : Given the unprecedented career workload that Sabathia and Burnett faced in 2008, the Yankees intend to ease their prized new starters into form when pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 13. "We’re going to be careful with them and make sure ...

CC Will Arrive in the Big Apple Tomorrow Night — Bleacher Report - MLB 12/14/2008
(Zell's Pinstripe Blog) Looks like we are going to see CC Sabathia put on that XXL jersey very soon. He will be arriving tomorrow night for his physical. The press conference could be as soon as Wednesday. A.J. Burnett will probably arrive within ...

CC Sabathia Will Arrive in the Big Apple Tomorrow Night — Bleacher Report - MLB 12/14/2008
(Zell's Pinstripe Blog) Looks like we are going to see CC Sabathia put on that XXL jersey very soon. He will be arriving tomorrow night for his physical. The press conference could be as soon as Wednesday. A.J. Burnett will probably arrive within ...

AJ Burnett, Mike Mussina Link Could Show Yankees Made a Wise Signing — Bleacher Report - MLB 12/14/2008
The Yankees are paying AJ Burnett like an ace at five years, $82.5 million. This is the most heavily scrutinized deal of the off-season. The reason why this contract could be successful for the Yankees is because of a link between Burnett, Mike ...

Yankees Add Another Stripe — Bleacher Report - MLB 12/14/2008
It seems like it has only been hours since many of us sports fans read about the New York Yankees offering prized pitcher CC Sabathia that huge contract. Just when you thought the Yanks were done, they go ahead and seal the deal on ace A.J. ...

The Yankees Keep Spending And Spending And Spending — Bleacher Report - MLB 12/15/2008
Nick Swisher is already in tow, and CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett just need to scribble their names on a piece of paper to make their signings official. Mike Cameron will be arriving in New York shortly, as the Melky Cabrera trade is nearing ...