Good post, Jungle Cat.

 

TMD/NYC- look at the Red Sox for another FA approach. They learned their lesson in the Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez signings and unloaded them to the Dodgers (thank you, LA). The new GM, Ben Cherington, took a different approach in signing lesser lights to high dollar, short length contracts- Mike Napoli for a year, Steven Drew for a year, etc.

 

They gave them good money and created hungry players. They've re-signed Napoli for 2 more years (not 7-8) and are talking to Drew and their offer to Jacoby Ellsbury (an aging CF with an injury history, kinda like MJD's situation) was nowhere near what the Yankees gave him (7 years, 153 mill). I don't think you'll see them write 7 year contracts again. They will pay good money but limit their exposure by writing shorter contracts.

 

Granted MLB is different from the NFL- imagine if there was a hard cap in MLB? The Yankees would be dead and buried. As it is, their profligate spending has gotten them into trouble but what do they do- Ellsbury for $153,000,000. The Mariners signer Cano for $240 mill.

 

I think I like the RS approach and the Jags, with the hard NFL cap, should consider that- avoid the splashy, expensive, long term FA's and focus on the quality guys- overpay them for 2 years and avoid dead money issues.

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