YankeesRedSox.com

Peter relayed his concerns about the Yankees signing of Melky Cabrera and I agree.  Voicing a similar concern, Jonathan Papelbon yesterday agreed to a $6.25mm deal a year after making $775k.  That's an 800% raise.

Before you go and tell me how important Papelbon is, save it.  He is important, but he also is part of the MLBPA and his union agreed to a system that rewards more senior players.

Back to the 800%.  Is that his fault, no.  The Red Sox were in line to perhaps go to $3mm at most (similar to Kevin Youkilis last year), but $6.25mm?!?  How can they justify that?  My only guess is that that Red Sox told Papelbon after last year that they'd take care of him (during the time they had control over his deal, there was friction), but to go this far is crazy.  I have to assume that a long-term deal is in the works and that the details just have to be hammered out.

Otherwise, what, do they offer him $48mm in 2010?  An 800% raise?  Please.

There has to be more to this than meets the eye.

Lastly, with the departure of George W Bush, the Boston sports scene watches a presidential tenure that gave us 6 Championships conclude.  That's a ton of trophies.  This is not any kind of partisan commentary, trust me, but it is interesting that that the 2 prior presidents (covering 12 years) generated no championships, and that included both a democrat and a republican.  Wonder that an Independent would do?  Green party?  Anyone?

Oh yeah, Javier Lopez signed for $1.35mm, a year after signing for $840k (and with the same service time as Papelbon).  Papelbon is better, but the compensation still doesn't make sense.