Baseball Players React to Manny Ramirez Suspension
Players from the Phillies and Mets react to the 50-game suspension handed down to Manny Ramirez. The All-Star outfielder was suspended for using a banned drug.
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NYC officials to give up new ballpark luxury boxes after criticism
NY taxpayers are being taken for a $1,000,000+ ride. People are getting sucked dry and political weasels ‘had zealously pursued the luxury box, as well as free food and access to post-season games’.
After intense criticism, the Bloomberg administration has given up a perk it worked fervently to secure: a free luxury suite at the new Yankee Stadium. The city will relinquish use of the 12-seat box in exchange for whatever revenue the Yankees generate by selling the seats, minus the cost of marketing them. Although neither the city nor the Yankees have publicly disclosed the market value of the suite, similar suites at the new stadium are being sold for as much as $600,000 a year. – From NY Times
Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration will forgo luxury boxes at the new Yankees and Mets ballparks, the city said Tuesday after months of criticism about its handling of the stadium projects. The administration has worked out a new deal with the Yankees to get extra money, instead of a luxury box. A separate and similar agreement is being worked out with the Mets for their new park, a Bloomberg spokesman said. Senior Bloomberg aides had fought hard to get the luxury boxes, describing the perk in internal e-mails as “a big issue to the mayor” during negotiations with the teams in 2006. – From SI.com
Realizing that talking about tough economic times while simultaneously keeping luxury boxes—for city use— at the new Yankee Stadium and CitiField is not great for his image, Mayor Bloomberg has agreed to give up the boxes in exchange for the cash. According to the Post, “The administration is asking both teams to peddle the boxes – the priciest go for $850,000 – to the highest bidders, and put the money in the city kitty over the next five years.” – From Gothamist.com
CC and JJ Live from New York
The Yankees jolted Major League Baseball on Wednesday as they neared completion of a record seven-year, $161 million deal with the ace left-hander C. C. Sabathia. They have also told A. J. Burnett that they would offer him a guaranteed five-year contract, perhaps for $16 million a season. As some teams scale back, fearing a sharp drop in revenue from sponsorships and ticket sales, the Yankees are the most aggressive shoppers at baseball’s winter meetings. – from NYT
From all over the Bellagio — including the elevator, where Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. wished him well — congratulations poured in for Minaya. In four sleepless days, he took the Mets’ weakest aspect — their bullpen — and made it their strength. He arrived here Sunday without a closer. He will leave with two, Francisco Rodríguez, who signed a three-year, $37 million contract, and J. J. Putz, acquired from Seattle in a three-team, 12-player deal late Wednesday night. “If you asked me, there was no way that I thought that I would come here and be able to get both of those guys,” Minaya, the Mets’ general manager, said. “That was just not — I didn’t think that was going to happen here.” – from NYT
‘K-Rod’ and Mets Agree on Contract
Record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement on a contract with the New York Mets. (Dec. 9)
Mets close to 3-year deal for K-Rod
The are closing in on the premiere reliever on the market. Watch for the next tier of closers to sign in short order. The dollars signal a soft market.
The Mets are close to finalizing a three-year deal for free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, according to people close to the team. Jon Heyman of SI.com and David Lennon of Newsday were first to describe the Mets as ‘closing in,’ while, in the New York Post, Joel Sherman says a deal is ‘on the brink.’ – From MetsBlog.com
The Mets appear on the verge of simultaneously interrupting a sluggish baseball market and solving their biggest winter issue. They are closing in on a deal to sign star free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez. The deal, which is expected to be consummated very soon, is said to be for about $37 million over three years. – From SI.com