Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti apparently isn’t a huge fan of the Yankees (or their spending) and isn’t afraid to admit it.

From the Baltimore Sun:

“It certainly doesn’t show up in the standings,” Bisciotti said. “If I’m a Yankees fan, I’m upset we’re not winning 130 games with the roster that they have and the money that they pay out. I think it’s a disgrace they only beat the average team by 10 games in the standings with three times the money. I’d fire that GM. You don’t need a GM. All you have to do is buy the last Cy Young Award winner every year.”

Granted, I realize that Bisciotti’s comments are meant to be over-the-top and are somewhat tongue-in-cheek. But I always find it humorous when the same argument about the Yankees is made every year: They spend the most, so therefore they should win the World Series every season. In no other walk of life is that argument accepted, yet Yankee-haters abide by it like it’s their constitutional law.

Do you always get what you pay for? Absolutely not. If I spend a truckload on a new car, is it guaranteed to outperform all other vehicles? No. If I spend $100 on a steak, is it guaranteed to taste better than a $50 steak? In essence it should, but again, there’s no guarantee.

So, why is it a shock to people that just because the Yankees spend more than everyone that they don’t win every year? I get the thought process behind it, but it’s an incredibly weak argument in the grand scheme of things. When it comes down to it, the players that the Yankees “buy” still have to execute on the field. It’s not like other teams stroll into New York and say, “Ah crap, we’re playing the Yankees tonight and they spend more, so they’re going to win.” It’s actually the opposite – teams get up for playing the Yankees.

Now, don’t take my point out of context. I’m fully aware that the Yankees have an advantage because they spend more. But this half-witted notion that they should win 130 games or take home the World Series every year is a lazy argument made by people that push aside the true meaning of sports and competition. And I get embarrassed for people like Bisciotti (someone on the professional level) when they use it.

Full disclosure: I’m not a Yankee fan. I hate that I have to say that every time I defend them, but if I don’t some wiseguy will lambaste me in the comments section for being a homer.

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The Giants are likely headed toward an arbitration hearing with their ace Tim Lincecum, as the sides remain far apart on the pitcher’s 2010 salary.

From the San Jose Mercury News:

The Giants and Lincecum exchanged salary offers two weeks ago; the Giants filed at $8 million, the highest number offered by a club to a player with less than three years of service time. Lincecum’s camp filed at $13 million, a record-setting number that many in the industry still considered low.

Industry sources said that it made sense for Thurman to file a “winnable” number if he expected the case to reach a hearing. Once at that stage, an arbiter considers the evidence, hears arguments and chooses one salary or another — with no middle ground.

I’d be shocked if an arbiter sided with the Giants at $8 million. Lincecum already has two Cy Young awards, is a two-time All-Star and the Giants finished with a winning record last season, which are all things an arbiter looks at.

The Giants have an interesting situation on their hands in regards to Lincecum’s long-term future. He has four more years of arbitration and if they wanted to, the club could go year to year and continue to pay him in the $13-20 million range (assuming his arbitration number continues to rise). Assuming he doesn’t get hurt and leaves via free agency at the end of those four years, then the Giants would have had him for four years at around $80 million.

Now, if they wanted to buy out his remaining arbitration years with a long-term contract, then the Giants will guarantee Lincecum upwards of $100 million. If he gets hurt, then they’re screwed but at least he’s locked in and they don’t have to worry about going year to year with arbitration and getting embarrassed with offers like $8 million for one of baseball’s best pitchers.

With the way he’s looked the past two seasons, I would hurry to lock Lincecum up to a four or five year deal if I were the Giants. But he’s only 25 and no matter great he’s pitched over the last two years, there’s no guarantee for future success. If his arm fails off in a year, the Giants would have made the right decision to take things year by year.

Either way, “The Franchise” is under the Giants’ control for the next four years.

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Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times tweets that the Dodgers have signed outfielder Reed Johnson to a one-year contract. Although a specific dollar amount remains unannounced, I’d expect Johnson it to be around $1.5 million with some additional performance-based incentives. Johnson hit .255/.330/.412 last season as the Cubs’ fourth outfielder. He will likely serve the same role upon joining the Dodgers.

This is a great signing for the Dodgers, who were until now looking at unproven minor-leaguer Jason Repko to fill the role. Johnson is only 33 years old and is a career .282 hitter. He’s also supposedly a great clubhouse guy who never complains.

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Orlando Hudson is in no position to ask for $9 million next year. On December 1, the Dodgers chose to not offer Hudson arbitration and to everyone’s surprise, he still remains on the market. The Nationals have emerged as the only serious contender, which should be a clear sign of Hudson’s current value.

Fact is, $9 million is far too much money for a 32-year-old second baseman. True, Hudson does come with plenty of positives worthy of a decent contract. With a career batting average of .282, four Gold Gloves, and a perfect club-house personality, he’d be a key player on any team. However, Hudson can’t expect that kind of money when he doesn’t steal bases, hits for minimal power, and has a questionable back. For his body type, Hudson should steal about 20 bases per season. Also, if he wants to continue hitting higher up in the order, 10 home runs won’t do. Brian Roberts, Aaron Hill, Robinson Cano, Chase Utley, and Brandon Phillips are currently the most productive second basemen in the game. Cano, now 27 years old, will make $9 million next season — the same amount Hudson is seeking. In 2009, Cano hit .320 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs, all the while helping the Yankees to a World Championship. Do Hudson and Cano really compare?

No, they don’t.

The Nationals are reportedly offering Hudson a one-year, $3 million deal. If the Nationals are serious, they’ll increase the amount to about $5 million. In that case, Hudson would be a fool to look elsewhere.

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According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees offered free agent outfielder Johnny Damon a $6 million contract last week and he turned them down.

In a last-ditch effort late last week after Damon himself called the team, Cashman, one of baseball’s best dealmakers, tried floating a contract of $6 million with $3 million deferred at no interest (with the promise it would be cleared with team boss Hal Steinbrenner, who was about to return from his honeymoon). But Damon wasn’t moved enough to respond.

“I know what kind of player I am. I know I’m a player who makes a difference and won’t back down,” Damon told SI.com by phone on Thursday.

Damon is said to have a few possibilities. Teams reported to have shown some interest include the A’s, Rays, Tigers, Reds, Braves and Blue Jays. Damon doesn’t sound worried at all.

“I’m all right being a free agent at this point. I get to see how teams are shaping up,” Damon said. “I know what I can do. And I think the rest of the world knows what I can do.’

This is turning out to be one of the greatest mysteries of the MLB offseason and I’m not referring to how Damon still hasn’t signed with anyone. It’s a mystery that this clown thinks he’s worth double-digits because he hit 24 home runs last year in the wind tunnel that is Yankee Stadium.

Damon and his agent Scott Boras have reportedly been seeking $10 million a year from the Yankees, but Brian Cashman was only willing to do $2 million a year. It’s a little surprising that Cashman bumped that number up to $6 million and Damon rejected.

Any National League team that is willing to give Damon $10 million a year is out of their minds. He has the throwing arm of a 3-year-old child and he’s a complete disaster judging balls in the outfield. Simply put, the only thing he can do well is hit and there’s no guarantee at his age (35) that he’ll continue to hit .282/24/82 away from Yankee Stadium.

If some team is willing to fork over $10 million for half a player, then they obviously have no idea what the terms “money management” and “value” are. The Yankees have played this situation right and if Damon doesn’t want to compromise on a $6 million deal from the World Series champs, then here’s hoping he has to settle for a low ball deal from a non-competitor. Because he and Boras are delusional about what he brings to the table in terms of talent.

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Jason Giambi and the Rockies have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.75 million. The 39-year-old slugger will be used as a pinch hitter and occasional first baseman.

From FOXSports.com:

He hit .292 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 19 games for the Rockies last September, when he had two game-winning hits and helped Colorado win the NL wild card.

He was a huge hit in the clubhouse, mentoring young players and veterans.

General manager Dan O’Dowd said he gained a fuller appreciation for Giambi’s clubhouse contributions during meetings with his staff, manager Jim Tracy and his coaches last week.

“It became very clear to me how much of an integral part he was in leadership and accountability and the standards of what we’re trying to become here,” O’Dowd said. “I think that was probably first and foremost in the decision to bring him back.

“And then, two, we think he can be a very, very productive player in the role that he will be used in, which is to complement Todd and to get a lot of big hits for us when called upon to do that,” O’Dowd said. “And then with interleague play, we’re adding a legitimate bat into the middle of our lineup.”

After a dismal return to Oakland, Giambi performed well with his new team in Colorado. He can be a clutch pinch hitter, though I don’t think he should play first base too often, as much as Todd Helton welcomes the possibility. Considering the Rockies are supposedly toying with the idea trying Brad Hawpe out at first base, they are certainly handling Helton’s breakdown.

Nevertheless, Giambi’s experience is an invaluable asset at the very least.

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With the Dodgers re-signing of Ronnie Belliard the team might have found their starting second baseman. The contract, for one year and $875,000, is a steal of a deal for the Dodgers considering Belliard’s unexpected success with the team. Still, that money is only guaranteed if he hits 209 pounds or less during spring training.

Before being acquired by the Dodgers in August of last year, Belliard was going nowhere in Washington. When he landed in Los Angeles, he took over for eventual Gold Glover Orlando Hudson. If Belliard had fallen on his face, the signing would have looked terrible. Instead, he was a pleasant surprise. He quickly won over the fans, posting a .351 average with 5 home runs and 17 RBIs. Remaining a starter in the playoffs, Belliard hit .300 and played strong defensively.

But do the Dodgers stick with Belliard over the ever-patient Blake DeWitt? Manager Joe Torre has alluded to starting DeWitt, but that now remains uncertain given Belliard’s return. Also, DeWitt has never really made a splash on the big stage. Over the past couple years, DeWitt has been sent back and down to the minors a ridiculous amount of times. It’s just hard to believe the organization has confidence in the guy. While he is probably a better at second than Belliard, I think it comes down to their bats in this situation.

As for Jamey Carroll, his signing just makes things worse for DeWitt. I think Carroll will end up spelling Belliard, further decreasing DeWitt’s role.

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The Yankees signed free agent outfielder Randy Winn, which more than likely signals the end of Johnny Damon’s time in New York. Joel Sherman reports that the deal for Winn is a one-year contract worth around $2 million.

Brian Cashman has maintained that he won’t go higher than $2 million for Damon, who still has pop in his bat but is the worst defensive outfielder in baseball. Winn was a disaster against left-handed pitching last year, but he’s an outstanding defender and will play a great right field in New York.

Damon and his agent Scott Boras are reportedly still seeking a contract in the double-digit range, but considering he’s a defensive liability, he probably won’t get much more than $5 million guaranteed. The A’s and Rays are possible landing spots, but he’ll have to come down on his demands.

Of course, if he comes down a bit on his demands, he might be able to return to New York.

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