Buster Olney, ESPN

" Joining us on the AT&T hotline AT&T your world delivered as one of the best baseball people in America from ESPN -- only as -- good morning buster. I. I'm not as good as."

" At Boston Massachusetts following. A yankees convincing. World Series title."

" Welcome why -- in the middle plotting how you're going to pin down next."

" I don't know but -- it -- as we even have a pretty spirited debate about the role of money. For the Yankees in the World Series I say. Money's important but you gotta do other smart things to put a great baseball team out there and dale sees it a little differently -- say."

" I just -- fit that minutes what when delicate team payrolls buster the Red Sox are closer to the San Diego Padres at 29. Then they art of the Yankees and that that's a huge advantage disadvantage for the Red Sox and tough to overcome."

" An excuse and it's absolutely true in themselves number one. The payroll situation baseball the disparity. Is getting to be an increasing problem and it. And it's only gonna get worse. And stuff that's gonna happen in the next 37 days and two -- yankees who take great job. Indian in the way that they spent their money in the wake that they changed the way they've operated. Really -- the Paula 2005. Brian Cashman went to George Steinbrenner to look we have to change the way to -- things we have to find ways to catch up to the Red Sox and some of the other teams are running organizations better than we are."

" So is it possible for a team like that -- maybe the Red Sox are a great example because they spent a lot of money to. Team like Tampa last year is that a once in a generation aberration buster where you have. Great scouting and development and you have a bunch of kids who can take down a high salary team like the Red Sox for the Yankees."

" Givers to the movie hoosiers -- yeah. That's the way I think that's the way we're gonna give it to detonate race. Because I think there window's closing you know an on the off the other day between games five and six. He released traded -- more there's second baseman to the Pittsburgh Pirates there really. Why they did that was to take 650000. Dollars in buyout money. -- contract -- to bring it back because he's too expensive and by the way you more make it four point 85 million dollars now what -- their highest paid player. Is that tell you everything he need to know about sort of where teams -- yeah I think the -- of opportunities for the small market teams. Are getting smaller. And there's an edge in the next 37 days you're going to see eight. Wave of not tendered players like you've never seen before general managers -- going to be between. 7500. Guys guys like Jeremy Hermida. -- imitators of rumor about Mark Teahen probably going to be traded struggle like that's by the -- city royals because it five million the royal don't think they can afford it. Even at that he's going to be an increasing problem so I absolutely do think that money is. That is not a minor issue and certainly the Yankees. In the first year which they -- this new ballpark which which was tremendous success that windows can be -- They're loaded in that they want to decide they want John Lackey they're gonna get a."

" One of the examples that we used concerning the financial disparity was just to Sharon. If the Red Sox had spent more than the Yankees for Teixeira if he were here instead of there how significantly with the gap between the two teams -- close."

" I think I really think we're gonna look back at that bidding -- turning point. In the dynamic between the Red Sox and yankees I think the -- such would be the better team this year if they wanted to share bidding I think that portable player. You would have given the -- that's exactly what they needed. -- younger guy. The guide to replace the Ortiz Manny. A guy who can upgrade the defense. And only this year but in years going forward. And instead you know the -- such a kind of left to choose among a lot of lesser options. And the Yankees meanwhile have this guy and the -- opening. So that it that there are always gonna Carrick judgments about guys when they make money decisions as to charity at last winter. But from the moment that he got in the yankees' clubhouse he's been tremendous in terms of -- he's dealt with the media. -- we dealt with gates."

" In -- no doubt that market share as an impact player but this is why I disagree. That it would have it would have faulted the Red Sox the World Series that I think the Yankees. With the signing of CC sabathia. And AJ Burnett and even acquiring Nick Swisher I think they still had enough. To overcome if the Red Sox had gotten to share I still think the Yankees would wound up when in the World Series."

" Well. I I hear you and I think about it spat in -- were to -- as well but -- to share would make huge difference during the regular season. You know the Yankees would -- Nick Swisher at first base. On some lesser option out the outfield. And I think going forward they wouldn't be set up and on the other hand the Red Sox would have been -- guy. To the next to middle order -- I mean you you can play more than I do alleys and -- the year what they -- to start for -- some. You know a consistent offensive -- middle of their lineup. And and I know people. -- and thought it would give you that he shares on the Yankees last year they're like well that might swing the balance of power between these --"

" Hideki Matsui was a World Series MVP was tremendous. It was great last night against Pedro into situations that that turned the game around. Does that job changed the way. The Yankees are gonna approach him in the offseason now that he's a World Series MVP maybe they thought about moving on from this guy and now it's gonna be difficult to do."

" How it's gonna tournament it's big business cannot personal. I really what they're gonna do its. Played command and that to be off each other there -- only keep one of the two guys. Thank you wanna keep some flexibility to decide clearly with his regret and defensive skills is gonna eating ups and that's the designated hitter next year in Europe to that. Are you wouldn't surprise me if they were to basically put off perceptible payment and that's who he or maybe -- go after -- first. And say this is are asking price this there's this there are performed for you Johnny. It you don't take it we're gonna laughter Matsui and and basically get one of those two guys at the price they want -- they they --"

" As I look at this thing with look the left field position for the Red Sox and the Yankees. I if if if they flop left fielders -- Jason Bay got wooed by the Yankees and sign their in the Red Sox is a stop gap put -- Damon in left field here. I think he'd he'd hit about eight home runs here next year."

" net you know what I I hear you I don't -- the Yankees can be aggressive in going after popular because they've got in the dark injecting coming up. And they do that is is we talked about the -- to do that sort of impending decision. We've Derek -- about in it didn't have to be next year within the next two or three years they got to move -- that at a shortstop because they get to share they were up locked -- diplomatic corner. So white do you think it you know that they that they will not be a major bidder for holiday -- bad -- surprised that I don't think they'll."

" Buster I'm about to give your new job here get ready for this I know I have prepped John Nance but you're no longer ESPN baseball analyst you are now. The general manager of the Boston Red Sox. What are you gonna do in the offseason. General manager only to get the Red Sox back to the World Series."

" On call in the Florida Marlins about Jeremy Hermida. Who's gonna be one of these guys you might be not tendered on calling. It trying to pluck the best of those guys and I guarantee that there has been doin' that. And it's in talking with general manager on the game and they say this is a really heavy part of the conversation right now I don't think Garrett position at this moment. To make a dynamic huge movement you know Heidi idiots like you might -- okay Prince Fielder. You know -- side channel Lackey. I think it is going to be land back a little bit it next -- is gonna be somewhat of a transition year as they work to the last years of the contract Ortiz and Mike all. And I don't think they're gonna position really to do exactly what they're going to need to do to. You know to upgrade drop into the pitchers can beat us and other sort of a platoon failure -- gonna have to do more incremental and stuff like adding at promising young player like --"

" Could you handicap the field forming out Menem throw some names out here and just tell me. About the days the possibility or that the viability of these guys being available one is. Felix Hernandez who is Adrian Gonzales. Three. Is Miguel Cabrera and for its former Red Sox -- remembers."

" One identity gonna get and we are -- basically up to -- the entire farms is in the the Marlins he usually -- them especially since they are getting ready to open up the new ballpark tonight. I know you know that they -- the Red Sox and Marlins had a conversation lasted about point two seconds about lately merit last year. In less the Marlins -- decent series financial situation I just can't see it happening and I can't -- EO now. Give it with a retouched aren't system -- I don't seems suddenly to strip down everything he -- that one player. Especially with the young cute shortstop they have coming up where everyone just raves about Miguel Cabrera that all depends on whether. You know Mike -- the tigers owner decides. That he's got a slash payroll and we have no indication that that's the case to mean this winner or -- during the summertime -- they were -- has. They allowed him to reach -- best option for eighteen million dollars and everyone else in baseball but they were great -- do so. So it seems like -- is no problem putting money down a train. Felix Hernandez said nick -- the Mariners can make -- sincere effort to sign him. And I'd make my gut is that they're gonna work it out make the Mariners know that he's gonna cost about a hundred million dollars. Gonzales again it's a little bit like and your -- think certainly would be as expensive in terms of prospects. But if -- the Red Sox. You wanna give up a boatload of prospects. For him orgy wanted to -- your time wait for another first baseman to come around because she nailed it yet. A lawyer going net job. He's going to ask for an -- And and he's not expensive it's not like the Padres to sit their with the fifty million dollar contract. He'd only -- four million dollars he literally have to overpay to get heavily in the pod race."

" Well asking you buster only the general manager of the Boston Red Sox this simple question. Are either Michael all or David Ortiz tradable."

" Now. They are not you basically adapt -- huge chunk of the contract it to make them go away. And let's face it I think it's spring training. If not sooner they'll probably -- valuation process where which they will look at them and decide you know what should we just -- the money sooner or should we do that later. And we'll see I don't think it I you know can bet that one of those two guys not yet finished a Q regrets about."

" Josh Beckett in town here right in the last couple of days said that he and his agent are gonna begin conversations with the Red Sox very soon. About the possibility of -- contract extension he reiterated his desire to continue one year the you feel that will get done."

" If he's willing to. Get paid. You know it if you look deeper CC sabathia technical know it won't I I dispute that's not the auction style or do we -- And I -- you know given the fact he's a little -- concede he was when he became a free agent. It might be like John Lackey where we're seeing -- now basically draw a line in the sand. Dropper it was something in the region for years sixty million dollars and they tell them look we W. We di Leo. But we're not to -- to keep you and the numbers might be higher than sixty million -- that's the packet but I wouldn't be surprised -- similar stance and that would make. Place a value on hand you know maybe that's by year's 75. And Intel on this is this work on it not good enough well we lobby -- lucky."

" You said earlier if the Yankees won John Lackey they'll get them to they wanna."

" I don't know we get quiet it is no because they've got into a -- Chamberlain. Coming up and certainly they'll use vacant look at. It guys developing but we saw during the postseason. They are kind of haven't issued back into the rotation. And the long is it is -- real strong candidate to not be tendered a contract by the Yankees beat got a hole at the back can of their rotation. -- It don't Lackey is going to be looking to get paid by somebody and we saw last year with the -- I don't think as the winner began and the Yankees like okay electoral 180 million dollar Mark Teixeira I think is that the market. Like you know what we got the money let's look at any and I think the real question on I'm black he's going to be which team. He's going to give him a five year it was sixteen million dollar deal like Burnett. Last year it was the key to what the extra mile to get him and I wouldn't. It would stop any of the market on Lackey kind of hangs around sixty million if the Yankees look at that say you know what. It's okay have we been a lot of money we could use it we're at a luxury tax let's let's say at the back into the rotation."

" Is it possible that the Yankees financial situation is not as good as we think it is. We see all the empty seats in the is expensive seats around home plate. We know that that Brian Cashman continues to talk about getting the payroll. Below 200 million dollars are they maybe not as flush as we thank."

" Now I'd like to do pretty well because -- network and I you know I don't pretend to know what's in the books but -- from what I read in at. Network is now worth over a billion dollars. I had to think about that they did have a completely separate entity. They're doing extremely well -- on all parts of all facets beat these seats certainly look ugly but I think that's related effective -- that -- clearly overpriced -- Where the economy while it. A ridiculous tickets as she too can be filled and come up the championship the public in a sellout most dictate."

" We don't the Yankees still have some huge fan and can no they have some youth and relative youth and CC sabathia and Mark Teixeira. Also have some age if you are looking ahead to 2010. They just won the World Series are they the favorite to win it again in your opinion."

" I think it would the united Tuesday at the Phillies going to next year as the favorite to win the National League. Com yeah I think that's that the you know one of the big questions point four besides the back into the rotation. When is the -- manifest itself and it will at some point in Derek -- work really hard the last two Lott's seat. But within the next two or three years he's not going to be -- not to play shortstop Alex Rodriguez. You could give you that it's yet this year coming off the church he looks step. Popular does he really began to lose. A lot of his lateral movement awaiting you guys on Michael this year. You know our -- our other guys can regret. But let's face and -- cut so much money and they have the ability to plug those holes quicker than any other team. I expected they'd like the Red Sox are going to take advantage of the situation arbitration eligible players. And you know you might see them going out and trying to attic I like Jeremy your media plucking the best in those three to five year guys from from -- at the small market keeps."

" a feeling your offseason the last but three days."

" About three and that it's just does this morning you know here. Well the royals might be trading Martina in the White Sox today in public noble or -- ago."

" There there is no offseason for you right."

" Well that's -- you know it's pitcher stigma I talked to Brian Cashman two days ago and -- you know it is certainly what you're out there and it talked about the now. Not -- thing. And and he said boy you know I I kind of wish I had more time beginning to a but I don't like -- today after he picked up his kids' school. -- make phone calls beach company that market it just doesn't stop now."

" we always appreciate the time thank you is always. Take care that is O buster only from ESPN he's in the dale and Holley leadoff spot brought to you by Q double Mexican grill handmade for real. Log -- of the -- on -- page on WEEI dot com to receive today's special lunchtime offer or text -- Obama QB OB eight. The 645336."