Alex Speier, WEEI.com

" It just seemed so appropriate that the baseball winter meetings -- in Las Vegas, Nevada and we get to use the phrase the price of poker has just gone up. Based on the apparent contract agreement between the Yankees and CC sabathia. Joining us live from sin city as he has all week long and well all week long the rest of the way as well is Alex beer from WEEI dot com the morning Alex."

" Greetings are you today. Are things in sin city for you that. Sleepless in which you guys in Boston."

" We got more sleep than you anyway."

" Well -- they would -- one thing in Boston of the big story of the buzz surrounds CC sabathia. Are you surprised that he got that much money and what do you make now that he has become a Yankee what do you make of the Red Sox. Talking with CC just a few days ago."

" I am surprised that that the Yankees ended up essentially bidding against themselves instead Doherty left the field very good forty million dollars in in the years in the best of it's the best of of the knowledge that we have available to us in terms of what he got out of out of talking to Austin. I mean there there have to be at least a little bit of curiosity factor as to whether or not. As to whether or not Cashman you know in the aftermath of the Red Sox meeting with him at any sentiment of -- perhaps you know I don't want to read aspects of sabotage you know what they're ground -- they're trying to lay. And whether or not that contributed to. This particularly aggressive -- instinctive to stated that the Cubans were unrelated. They Cashman just sense the since he kind of uncertainty about sabathia about whether or not he wanted to go to your consent. You know let a put another another year another twenty million dollars up to show discuss how sincerely we want him and -- they'll get the deal done. So what to make of the Red Sox have been met with these -- They meet with all the guys who are good and we're going to make their team better and he he certainly would've been a guy who did that but I think that they understood from the beginning that that. He wasn't going to be a guy who would fit financially and what they were trying to do. But it was worth the it was worth exploring -- simply confirming that bit of that."

" You actually bring up a good point -- I mean it does smack a little bit of the Texas rangers' signing of A-Rod. I mean the Yankees where forty million dollars shot of the Milwaukee Brewers as far as we knew that was the next best offer out there. I mean in almost smacks of panic move by Cashman to throw another twenty million and another year on the."

" The Yankees have so much money. Especially -- you know they're getting rid of 7080 million dollars off their payroll in they're getting ready to go into the it's the resource generating monster but it Yankee Stadium. -- I don't think there's anything they do with money right now qualifies the panic."

" So what happens to for the Red Sox from here I was this and it dale. -- Boris is getting crushed by the Red Sox than is Jason Varitek on negotiation. So the Red Sox can do. Pretty much anything they want -- Varitek if it because the market is just not their form."

" the market was never there for them this was a bad misread by by you know by the Boris Varitek aside. You know maybe LB brought Indian may be Boris is going to. You know and they get out of magician all the proverbial rabbit out of -- and be able to manufacture. Some kind of interest you know may be something unexpected would happen. In the trade market that might create. Demanded not in Indian city that we're not expecting -- be maybe you know. Jorge Posada -- quick follow up as he tries to opt to return from that labor problem but. You know barring those events it's really looking like the like the Red Sox are going to be in -- In a pretty strong negotiating position with Varitek. But but the one thing is that you know the red in in discussing their contract extension for Dustin Pedroia you Epstein clarified you don't want to be in a position. Where you're undermining one of the leaders of your team by you know kind of going to war over money on a year to year basis. So I don't think that the Red Sox would. With those significantly alter. Go below what arbitration offer would be elected that they would. -- bad feelings with Varitek if they did bring him back. I think that they'll continue to give an opera to demonstrate the kind of respect. That they do have form and and I think that. If that's you know that's a good scenario for all parties Varitek gets a chance to reestablish the value little bit. The Red Sox can acquire a young catcher perhaps who out who would be the catcher of the future have an opportunity to watch and -- the Red Sox pitchers. And yeah I think that's. Always been the scenario that made the most sense. Every executive you talked to in at Las Vegas it's simply shocked did it Varitek and forested and accept the arbitration offer because. No one especially -- the draft pick companies that went went the arbitration offer was made of teams -- Varitek would have to -- Give up a draft pick was point -- Barrett."

" Well Alex -- you were to stand and it makes a lot of sense but isn't there a middle ground somewhere on one hand. You don't want to undermine that leadership and the guy does wear the C on his Jersey on the other hand if you pay him eleven million dollars a year you're here admitting. That your paying far above market value and that's not good business either can't you give him eight and a half million. Or nine million and to demonstrate yes we have respect for you but we still not bad businessmen."

" Yeah I I think that's that's precisely I mean that's certainly going to be within the realm of reason. And I think they're bad. I think the back can be done without the -- has to dramatically undermining. That notion of the team's respect. The other -- the other possibility is that we could end up seeing something like a two year twelve million dollar deal. In which you know some kind of moral victory could be claimed. Even though the even though the average annual value would be well below what it would have been with arbitration offer."

" In your opinion has the K rod in CC sabathia deals. Now prime the pump sufficiently that we may actually get some business done today or tomorrow."

" I'll be really interested to see what happens in the in the starting pitching market and yeah I think that the other the other closers are also going to start coming off the board relatively quickly you know Fuentes. And in the -- and now note if they aren't going to New York and so. You know they want they want to. Hurry at this point because of -- you know the closer market there's so many closers available. Did that they really want to make sure that they don't lose the game of musical chairs they'll I think that market should develop. Pretty quickly I think did I think it's about he was kind of it is on stratosphere as far as as far as negotiations. So I'm not sure if that's going to truly pick up the pace of the -- Of the Burnett net and below in -- negotiations but. I have a feeling it does it goes well certainly with Burnett. In and load those guys have had plenty of market. Available to them thus far so. So I -- the groundwork was there whether or not sabathia signed for first more signings in. But the closing in -- market."

" And Boston is easy for us to bash the Yankees that's just what we do it's it's part of the karma but I guess it's part of the comeuppance. I think in New England. But let me ask you this do you see them doing anything more than spending money in other words. The signing of sabathia are they signing him because they can't or they sign him because. There is a vision that they have for the type of team that they want to put out there."

" They want to have you know they want to have one of the best two or three pitchers in baseball they want to have a dominant run prevention team and they're willing to spend. A ton of money on it this is not merely muscle flexing -- identifying. The top available talent a guy who is. You know at what should be -- you know the peak years of a career durability is always you know it's difficult to predict especially with a guy. You know with the -- of the feet by but everything we know about the guys that that he has the horse for the long -- And in so I think that that was the pretty clear motivating factor they need that guy at the top of the rotation nor reestablish themselves. As a dominant forces especially. Which you look at American League east in you know don't just look at it to the Red Sox -- because the Tampa Bay Rays have pitching it's going to be just. You know potentially staggeringly good as well for awhile especially with a dialect price. -- going to be -- who could be fronting them within a couple of years they'll. You know they really needed to have that presence. If they want to to reassert themselves and you know in now when you start to look at the pieces coming together in that the prospect of adding on a Burnett. Who's going to be in nasty Sweden who could be a nasty we -- sky. In the American League east. That that's a potentially formidable formidable rotation."

" Where and what is the market for Manny Ramirez."

" I think that Manny is do with the situation that is not exactly analogous to -- to Varitek but it's not too far off you know. LA is on record as saying we like the guys he was amazing an amazing addition for us. But they have quite lightly not bid against themselves. I don't think they will either because LA always goes shorter years on their contract. But yep it's really difficult to find a bit I think it. I am curious to watch what happens with Philadelphia up because of you know the Charlie Manuel connection. Because they're going to be reciting -- On the to see whether or not they might end up making a run at any ultimately I mean -- and Citizens Bank Park can you even a match in what you would look like. Not only hitting in that little band box but in a lineup with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard there could be some. Absolute craziness in Philadelphia for a couple of years but to this point you know we're waiting for that market materialize and you know just kind of staring at tumbleweed blowing by as we to wait for any evidence that there is one."

" Now maybe this is the Joe dirt lot jilted lovers speaking of that and I said dale many times. I was a member the Manny Ramirez fan club. Not only that the Manny Ramirez apologist club for about fifteen years and fifty came into the big leagues. Is there a possibility. If what you say history that possibility that he could make less money as a free agent -- would've made. If he allowed the Red Sox the pick up one of those options."

" I'm skeptical of that because I think that the pick if it gets to that is if you have. The if you have the possibility of thought well are you talked -- to."

" I don't think about what you know continue to -- twenty million dollars. This year if the Red Sox it's that you will pick up that will pick up your option for I think."

" I think that if it's if it's a short deal -- year two years and that becomes and that becomes evident you know some team will love will be able to step up and say. You know for a year or two will go to 21 million dollars allowed them to save face -- camp. On the based on not based on his performance be surprised if he didn't. If you didn't match the -- the average annual value of of those twenty million dollar option. Especially because the Dodgers you know at least initially had that offer of you know roughly 22 and how."

" And do you do you think teams will follow. What happens with Mark Teixeira Alex in other words if if Mark Teixeira I think he's he's going to get a lot more than twenty million but let's say Teixeira is -- slums that and comes -- around 2222. Million."

" It's a tough economy might."

" Yeah obviously what teams say ointment and Mark Teixeira point two million and he feet 28 years old. Why -- we have to pay Manny Ramirez on that level unease in the back you know 234 years of his career."

" Yeah I mean you know Teixeira should be a more valuable guy on an average on an average annual basis but the differences in this case -- You've been given more risk because of the number of years efficient with Teixeira. So you know you can justify giving me any higher average annual value. Justice just that the Dodgers were able to justify giving. Under Jones like eighteen and half million dollars to to -- a giant egg."

" is that the worst free agent signing ever in my -- based on his production like."

" you because -- Dumont and about Mike Hampton might not see it would like and it no worries veto terrible terrible agents sign. You look at the production of you cannot tell me."

" You kid named to a guy cant name two guys who more or less productive than a hundred Jones."

" This year in baseball. Numbers off all right and -- only stuck with him -- eat what I am but I can't risk provided Mike Hampton at least had some decent years really. What do you know. You ask a question I don't know about right now glad you guys keep top Republican. Right."

" And you know what it's only a four hour show so I don't think he's got time to find good stuff on my camp and over on the computer is. What's the order of business for Theo -- the guys in the 2436. Hours they have left their."

" Yeah I don't think there is a lot of order of business there are having a very quiet time of it I think the video Red Sox contingent is almost going stir crazy with the amount of in activity that's occurring with them. I'm getting the sense that -- that they made you know that they've been. Exploring the pitching market but that's all it spin and that I'm starting to feel like they're going to take the past son. You know even the years and dollars that is going to be talked about with with Burnett low I am starting to be skeptical of the Red Sox are going to end up going to the -- On those guys I think it you know Mark Teixeira is the big prize out there and and you know -- they're just continuing to tweak. In the conversations with other teams about about what the value of buy the catcher is going to be on the trade market you know they they turned down the opportunity. To acquire Montero for. In. In a package that would have but centered around Michael Bolton to -- and and you know so it is still looks like they're keeping their own young pitching. Which they've done a pretty good job of stockpiling along with the signing of like that but. Each dollar lot and in now you know focused on focused on the big bat and in the way you can get by the way expect such solutions."

" and unless you can make the case if you're within baseball ops. That Montero is going to somehow become the next Jason Varitek I'm not interest didn't get a -- and for me there."

" I think that the assessment on bowed ms. make as to whether or not he's his future is his ceiling is as a number three number four pitcher but. I mean certainly his track record for a guy at a high school was now 22 years old. You've just had really steady. Success in the minors in. You know I realize they're people who don't like his delivery date you know Ozzie Guillen certainly was no great fan of his stuff well and that and a Major League debut. Against the White Sox he was just okay I doubt. But it you know I think that he's certainly worth you know if you -- league average number three starter is worth eight to ten million dollars a year to any team that hasn't though. You know Montero is. Is an above average offensive -- someone in you know in Geovany Soto class. Kind of the second tier offensive -- that the pretty valuable commodity -- well but. I think that based on his performance in the majors that spark. You don't really have a guarantee of that."

" I hate to tell you this Alex. You're wrong in my camp and I'm telling."

" Had one good year might. Understand this year you can not find the year. From a free agent as bad as underdogs or is that. I think that -- not airports free agents."

" Yeah he's I think the difference here is that it is that you've got like five years of -- value out of my campaign."

" Listen to me -- me here Erica okay his first year in Colorado. Won fourteen games. He he he pitched 203 innings. ERA 541. In Colorado the old Colorado before the human door you know what the league ERA was 532. So. I'm telling you might hit in here."

" average very you know we should celebrate league average in Colorado."

" All I'm telling you that he was he was it close to an average pitcher in Colorado where home runs were gone into the night like -- year. Where you look at the next years seven of fifteen that fourteen and 813 and 95 and 33 and four. Mike Hampton Hampton have to production. Got Alex -- open up delegate. A little love."

" you know granted had a couple of years of being -- of being an adequate pitcher they tell a number of years of being an inadequate pitcher there were five bad years not. In that eight year contract to -- You know that's that's a pretty high priced."

" I'm I'm not surprised to see this week he -- from Yahoo! Sports and appease coauthored by Gordon needs that. What that is in the back into the -- did everything burning according to the piece that just came out on Yahoo.com. The key to the CC sabathia deal is a clause that allows him to opt out. After the first three years by which time he will have been paid 69 million dollars."

" That's that's a pretty interesting cause you know I think it does opt out clauses have been a certain way -- given they have been given a bad reputation. You know beat the value that the Blue Jays got on AJ Burnett. -- actually tremendous they got three prime years of his career. For roughly thirty million dollars that's a really good deal you know and and you know if the Yankees have given -- he -- the opportunity to you know. Just say you know what New York is not good time for me I'd I'd need you know this isn't the right lifestyle -- me they still probably get a couple years of him being great. Or if you or Pete struggled and decide that it's not a place where -- want to be and opt out then not -- they avoid having a bad contract on there and so. So that that's pretty interesting I hadn't heard about the opt out but that I had heard suggestions. They've -- the Yankees might offer that is as one potential means above -- About these concerns about about whether or not New York was perfect form but you know that's that's pretty interesting to Jeff Gordon."

" It's not exactly telling Yankee fans how anxious he has to get to the new Yankee Stadium is it. While I think he's he's leaving his options open it's a pretty it's a pretty good deal he gets some money up front and the Yankees. Get a pitcher who who who who could be the ace of their staff immediately."

" Yeah I mean let's let's think back to Mike -- You know you know he was incredibly skeptical about going to New York at that time -- when he signed with the Yankees prior to the 2001 season. And and you know ended up not only pitching brilliantly for them for the like respect contract but also signing a deciding to extensions with them so. You know guys came that can have New York on them."

" Alex we appreciate the the information in the update -- you've got to decide whether -- leave the Romanov. It is always that unit -- take that chance that it's only a false alarm. And do you feel lucky."

" I have but I do not bother with luck in Vegas I assume they've done a good luck is always ruled by the house and and still I'm simply going to but."

" But I believe that said I'm trusting that there's a false alarm. Alex we appreciate it we'll talk to you tomorrow -- sell tickets at gala Alex spear from WEEI dot com doing yeoman work along with rob Bradford -- Maloney."