Texeira Signing Doesn't Give Yanks World Series

Well, after dropping $161 million on C.C. Sabathia and $82.5 million on A.J. Burnett, the Yankees made everyone take the bait that they had in fact emptied their coffers. But oh what a ruse it was.

Apparently, the pouch wasn't quite so empty though, as reports from Ken Rosenthal to Jon Heyman to the New York Times to the Boston Globe are reporting that the Yankees have again reeled in the big fish and landed the top hitter on the market in Mark Texeira. Just days after telling the public that they weren't the high bidder on the free agent slugger, it appears by all means they were, by about $12 million over the life of the 8-year, $180 million deal. And boy we all took it, hook, line, and sinker.

So does this end the offseason exploits for the Yankees, after having dropped $423.5 million faster than General Motors and Chrysler could come knocking to ask for some? Perhaps not, Manny Ramirez is still out there, and as of last night, sources out of the Dominican Republic were reporting that Manny had told friends that he was expecting a 3-year offer around $25 million from the Bombers. Would it really surprise anyone if New York were to land the enigmatic Ramirez on top of all of this?

But before I go any further, I'm going to stop short of sounding like a whining and jilted Red Sox fan. New York put itself in position to make these signings after paring down their payroll this offseason, letting the likes of Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, and Mike Mussina's contracts come off the books. They are also in a position to pay significantly less in luxury tax in 2009 due to the expense of putting in their new ATM...err, stadium.

However, non-Yankee fans should not all hang their heads just yet. While it may seem like the check for World Series title number twenty-seven has been signed and mailed into the commissioner's office, we all need to keep in perspective a number of different reasons:

- The Yankees play in easily the toughest division in baseball. Despite not landing Texeira, the Red Sox still have a formidable squad to contend with, anchored by strong bats and a solid rotation. The Tampa Bay Rays stepped up in a big way in 2008 and should take more strides in 2009 as more of their celebrated youth steps up.

- Injuries can play the devil's advocate to anyone's championship aspirations. Let's face it, Burnett isn't the shining star of health in anyone's books, which was evident by the fact that only two teams (Atlanta and New York) were willing to offer him five years. Sabathia has been healthy for the majority of his career, but given the build-up of innings on his arm in the last two seasons and his less than spectacular conditioning skills, he may be open to injury in the next season or so. Jorge Posada is coming off major surgery last season and it remains to be seen how healthy he'll be in 2009. The same could almost be said for Hideki Matsui, if New York chooses to keep him. Joba Chamberlain spent significant portions of the season on the DL in 2008. Derek Jeter isn't the horse he used to be. Things happen.

- Then there is the enigma known as Alex Rodriguez. Even if he escapes from his Kabbalah devotion with Madonna unharmed, Rodriguez has always wanted to be top dog in New York and has been at his most comfortable when he felt as much. However, add in a pitcher and a first baseman who are both likely to steal some of his thunder next season, and there's no telling how A-Rod is going to react or perform. We all saw what happened to John Lennon once Yoko latched onto his side, The Beatles died.

- The playoffs are still a matter of who gets hot and when. Texeira has yet to win a playoff series in his career. Sabathia, along with A-Rod, tends to over-press when the pressure gets turned up and it becomes win or go home time. Nothing is a given in the postseason....nothing!

So needless to say, the naysayers can stop foretelling the apocalypse now. Baseball is still a game, and it still needs to be played on the field. The front office parlor tricks may be a part of getting to that game, but you can't swing money at a 98 MPH fastball and you can't throw money at a guy when you really need an out. You play the game, and then you take what comes as a result, good or bad.