The Yankees' declaration that the club is going to cut payroll before the '14 season to avoid paying the luxury tax drew some strong reactions from the N.Y.-area television sports talk shows Friday. SportsNet N.Y. Marc Malusis said for the Yankees, cutting salary is “a business model.” With the new CBA, the Yankees "can't go out there moving forward and spend money like they have in the past like drunken sailors." Malusis: "They've got to go out there and be a little more concerned as far as the amount of money they spent on payroll." However, the team still plans to have a payroll of around $189M in '14, and it is "not like they are going to go out and get outspent by anybody else." Malusis: "They’re still going to go above and beyond.” ESPN.com’s Roy S. Johnson said, “The Yankees will still likely spend above and beyond what most teams spend on players. ... This is about making smart decisions. It’s also about seeing the end of the line for the top stars on this team" (“The WheelHouse,” SportsNet N.Y., 3/2). SportsNet N.Y.’s Adam Schein noted Yankees Senior VP & GM Brian Cashman announced Friday "that the Yankees are still going to outspend everyone." Schein: "The Yankees make more money than anyone else ... (and) they spend it back on the baseball team. Imagine that concept. That is how it should be.” He added, "The Yankees will always spend the most money. ... Let's not confuse the issue here. This is not ‘Moneyball’ here" ("Loud Mouths," SportsNet N.Y., 3/2). WFAN-AM’s Joe Benigno said the decision to get under the luxury tax limit will have no effect on the team at all. Benigno: "If there is a guy out there they feel they absolutely have to have, they are still going to go after him." The N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola: "If they want the best players, they go out and pay for them. That is what the Yankees have done. When the rules allow it, they should do it.” The N.Y. Daily News' Bob Raissman: "This is a flexible thing with them. The Steinbrenner brothers are more budget conscious than George ever was. That is a point there. It is not going to make a big difference” ("Daily News Live," SportsNet N.Y., 3/2).
