The only grumbling about the Yankees' reported deal for Mark Teixeira should be from New York residents wondering why so much of their tax money will go toward the club's new stadium during a time of extreme cutbacks throughout the city and state.
Those folks worrying about a lack of police academies and school programs have every right to question whether the Yankees should be receiving some of the tax breaks and other aid for their new stadium when the club is flush enough to grab every new toy available this offseason. But the folks moaning around baseball about the Yankees' flinging of cash toward their desired subjects? They don't have as much of a case.
The Yankees simply made some excellent moves from a baseball and business standpoint this offseason, filling needs and using money that was coming off their books. Without any moves beyond Teixeira, the Yankees would actually have a slightly smaller payroll than last season, thanks to the absence of Mike Mussina, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Carl Pavano and Andy Pettitte, who would have to take a pay cut to return and still might not be wanted anymore.
The Yankees did nothing wrong within the confines of the game's rules and at least are willing to put money back into their product in an attempt to give fans a better show. That's more than can be said for several teams that accept Yankee dollars through luxury-tax money, then cling to it while letting their own stars seek riches elsewhere.
And this time the Yankees spent their money as wisely as they could, swooping in to get Teixeira for a reported $180 million, stealing him from division rival Boston and giving themselves a relatively young (29) first baseman who can hit and field for years to come.
None of this guarantees a title, of course, because we've seen the notion of the Yankees buying championships prove false for the last eight years. This is an all-or-nothing team now, and that type of pressure can drain some of the fun required to be loose enough to endure a full season's worth of big games -- not to mention an even more pressurized potential playoff run.
