Quote:
Originally Posted by Vox Populi
We pretty much agree on the foundation that since it's the Yankees, money doesn't factor in. Me, I'm thinking that the Yankees ought to put their money where their mouth is.
I agree that there was less question about Longoria's MLB readiness than there is Montero's, but not by a wide margin. What's more, catcher is a much thinner position that corner infield.
Frankly, they'd be doing the lesser teams (all of them, really, but mostly the perennial bottom 2/3rd payroll) a service by taking care of their top prospect now. Paves the way in a big way for other teams to make such deals. From NYY's perspective, mutually beneficial even if it goes south from the team's perspective, but I've gotta tell you, this isn't gonna go south. Montero is worth every word of the hype, and this is coming from a die-hard Sox fan. This is the most they've protected a prospect in years, and for fantastic reason - he's that good.
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Oh I agree, he is that good...offensively. Like I said, there's a lot of question of whether he's going to stick longterm as a catcher, and as of right now, the scouting pundits are thinking not. So while catcher is thin, Montero isn't projecting as a catcher for the duration of his career. I've outfield, first base and DH. Now way he's moving Tex out of the way. DH is a good chance, and frankly, I think that cuts down his worth in the long run.
I really don't feel anything the Yankees do is beneficial to anyone sans themselves and elite players. When Derek Jeter got locked up as a young player, it was a 10 year deal. How, in any way, does that pave the way for other teams? What team would have/could have done the same? If anything, it tells players, like Longoria, who is better than Jeter was at the same age, that if they hold out, bigger dollar signs await. How would lesser teams benefit from this? I'm a Padres fan, and Mat Latos, bar none, is the very best player we have. He's going to be making big time money when he hits free agency. If a team, say the Giants, were to have given Linecum, a reason comp., and 5 year, $80mil dollar extension to buy his arbitration years and then some, I'd be willing to concede that Latos is a guarenteed goner.
The Yanks put their money where their mouth was in 2008, when they signed Burnett, Tex, and Sabathia. The won a WS for their "efforts" in 2009. I just don't see the rush in paying Montero. Especially when his future position is in such question. I get he is a legit prospect, which I agree with. But he's not worth locking up, yet. They should wait and see how he progresses on both sides of the ball before making any rash decisions.