New York City Tourism in a Blink

By: Ally White
The New York Yankees ended the annual trade acquiring a couple of more huge contracts. They signed outfielder Bobby Abreu and pitcher Cory Lidle, the hopes are that these two can help them get to October. This brought to light the problems that the Yankees had and they were definitely desperate for pitching. The Yankees took on Abreu's hefty contract, hoping he can help them catch first-place Boston in the AL East.

In return they gave up a couple of slay players that no one seems to be worried about. The Yankees sent the Phillies 20-year-old minor-league shortstop C.J. Henry and 27-year-old left-handed reliever Matt Smith. The Phillies also received minor league catcher Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Carlos Monasterios, while the Yankees took on responsibility for Abreu and Lidle's contracts.

Abreu could have exercised his no-trade clause and killed the deal and any team expecting to acquire Abreu would have to pick up his $16 million option for 2008 in order for a trade to go through. However, the Yankees wanted Abreu under the expectation that they would be paying only the $22 million owed on his deal through 2007 and told the Phillies to negotiate any deal required to waive the no-trade clause.

For the Yankees new player this all turned out to be a pretty good deal just think that he is making $13.5 million this year and is owed $15.5 million next season. He has a club option for $16 million in 2008 with a $2 million buyout. Abreu's arrival to the Yankees could mean Sheffield won't return to New York next year. The Yankees hold a $13 million option on his contract for 2007.

The Yankees are the most popular franchise in the MLB for one simple reason the directives run the most aggressive money-making franchise. What some may think is as loading up on players without regard to money. Buying Abreu only shows that they are not afraid to reinvest into the on-field product, which in turn produces more money to be reinvested.