Yankees, Mussina agree on two-year, $23M deal

[Fenway]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/story/473504p-398297c.html

Mike Mussina is scheduled to take a physical today, after which his two-year, $23 million contract with the Yankees will become official. The Yankees declined a $17 million option last week, instead paying a $1.5 million buyout to the righthander. Mussina was 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA last season, his sixth with the Yankees.

[caulfield12]

Including the buyout, they're essentially paying him $12 million per season.

Based on last year, that's a very good deal for the Yankees, despite his age. They simply couldn't afford to let him go and leave the rotation as Wang, Johnson, Pavano (???), Philip Hughes and ????.

For those wanting to sign Jermaine Dye to a $15 million per season extension for 3-5 years (he will be 33 on opening day), there's no way you pay a corner outfielder more than a 1/2 starter. Not unless you've gone insane, like the Cubs.

We have Sweeney and Fields for this VERY reason. We cannot afford a $60 million dollar rotation and Thome/Konerko/Dye/Crede all making $10-15 million per season. Something's gotta give. And our bullpen will get more and more expensive in future years.

It's fiscally irresponsible, and JR will never do it.