Marte Re-Upped

The Yanks have made their first move of the offseason, resigning lefty reliever Damaso Marte to a 3y/$12m deal. Marte has a solid track record, and as Pete Abe reports, that's the going rate for a quality reliever. It's still a bit pricey, though, and given Marte's age (he turns 34 before the season begins) and elbow issues perhaps not the most stupendous investment. Over on the Banter, Cliff Corcoran questions the wisdom of so long a deal. I'm not sure what better options were available. Bullpen is one of those things that separates the men from the boys (just ask the Mets), and the Yanks are already going to lose Joba and solid work from Farnsy from last year, and of course they rely on the Bionic One. Piecing together so many quality innings from scratch would be a tall order. Marte's contract isn't too onerous, and should be fungible in any case. Hopefully it pays off.

Elsewhere, the Yanks are making lots of noise about their deal with Cisco, which they claim will make the new stadium the most technologically advanced in baseball from now into the future. Color us extremely unimpressed. The ability to order concessions and gear from your seat seems almost sad. We have vendors for that, and I hate to think of the ballpark experience without hearing them shout "Beer Here!" As for the prospect of the Yanks streaming media directly to seats, one suspects this will be propaganda more than useful info. Anyone with an iPhone can already call up stats and other info from their seats. The team's ability to entirely control the experience of its patrons and draw even more revenue from them seems like no perk at all. 

Congrats to Joe Maddon and Yank alum Lou P., managers of the year.

Comments

[Sam-YF]

No brainer move IMO. Not a huge risk money-wise and very good upside if he can find his stride...

[rz-yf]

Ditto that, sam.

As far as streaming media go, and despite the fact I sometimes can't stand his voice, it would be nice to listen to Sterling call the game without having to lug a AM transistor radio into the stadium. Although along the lines of their recent ban on sunscreen, will they let me bring in a set of headphones, or would I have to buy a crappy Yankee version for $20?

(Sometimes this organization makes it really hard to root for them)

[YF]

hard and expensive!

[walein]

I'm sort of surprised that they had to pay him 4 a year. They could have gotten away with less than 4?

[walein]

I'm sort of surprised that they had to pay him 4 a year. They could have gotten away with less than 4?

[walein]

Maybe send that remaining money to a tutor for me and me grammar?

[krueg]

We got Nick Swisher!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3700869

[Sam-YF]

Great trade! I love this...

[walein]

Me too