I don’t want my Rangers to sign him, but he’s the kind of signing that looks high now, but will look good 4 years from now when guys are getting more and producing less.

Like I said we can go back and forth about this forever, we’ll just have to wait and see how the Wilson situation plays out.

And I’m pretty sure Banuelos doesn’t enter into it. If Banuelos becomes major league ready, the fact that there’s a pitcher of similar quality and handedness would make no difference. Any more than the Phillies would avoid getting Cliff Lee because they already have a left-handed ace, or the Angels wouldn’t trade for Dan Haren because they already have Jered Weaver. You can never have too many frontline pitchers, unless you already have five (not even the Phillies have that), or you don’t have the money (not a concern for the Yankees, seems like).

The Yankees may not get Wilson. And they may decide they don’t value him as high as other teams. But it don’t think it will be the handedness of Sabathia or Banuelos that decides it.

…..All in one season. That kind of an impact player is rare; one-in-a-million, in fact. Try to put a price tag on that. You can’t.

We’ll see.

Also I can see the Rangers and Angels competing for his services but I just don’t see the Yankees investing more then 5 years/$85M in him if they decide he’s worth bidding on. Just my opinion but I think in 2012 this year the Yankees are looking for a pitcher who doesn’t require that sort of commitment. I could be wrong and like you said we’ll see soon enough. Something tells me and don’t ask me why because I couldn’t tell you but I see Oswalt as a much more likely candidate for the Yankees. The Yankees just seem to be feigning interest in him.

They failed to account for the “freak-of-nature” factor.

That said, it’s possible you’re right and he will, in fact, only get 5 years, with maybe a team option or vesting option. But I think even if that’s true, he’s likely to hit $100MM, or come very close to it.

I’m pretty sure that that kind of deal (a 5-year deal worth close to $100MM) is going to be offered by quite a few teams, not just the Rangers. I would guess the Rangers, Angels, Yankees, at the least.

We’ll find out soon enough!

The issue is that people a) are underrating how well Wilson has pitched the last two years, b) haven’t been paying attention to free agent pitcher salaries over the last few years, and c) don’t understand inflation.

Don’t see him getting up to or over $25M per because that will make him not only higher paid than Halliday which I think is a shame but it will also make him higher paid than Lee. I don’t see that in the cards if he “stays” in Philly. If he goes somewhere else that’s a different story.

Buehrle’s career ERA is 4. He’s a back of the rotation starter with the valuable quality of eating innings. The idea that he should be getting more than a guy who’s pitched like an ace the last two years is just crazy.

Anyway, Hamels will get more money than Weaver not just because he’s a bit better but because he’s closer to free agency (or will get a lot more money if he reaches free agency). Weaver traded away guaranteed money for the security of signing an extension before he had the chance to get injured or see his 1.5-year improvement regress.

Additionally, it’s been over a year since Weaver signed, and inflation’s a @*$%!.

Look for Hamels to get Sabathia money, plus inflation, assuming he has a typical Cole Hamels season.

If he lands this insane contract, it is only a testament to the weak market, not his talent.