Yankees Defend Offseason Spending Spree

While the Yankees' extravagant spending habits are nothing new, the current economic downturn has spurred increased criticism of the team's offseason moves, leading several Bronx execs to vehemently defend their practices. Upon introducing 1B Mark Teixeira, whose deal pushed the club past $423M in offseason commitments, COO Lonn Trost asserts the Yanks simply are "playing by the rules," reminding observers that the league benefits from the team's revenue-sharing funds and luxury tax payments. Hal Steinbrenner says of the heat the club is facing, “I’m not going to lose any sleep over it." Meanwhile, the city of N.Y. relinquishes its suite at the new Yankee Stadium after months of complaints, but not without getting something in return.

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