Totally agree here.
I think Colon's decision to turn down the Sox offer may end up working in the Sox favor. Colon's agent is looking for the Sox to bid on Colon against the Yankees and Red Sox. But (according to Gammons) the Red Sox are already committed to $110M in '04, unless they can unload Nomar (which would be a PR nightmare) they likely won't dabble in the Tier I FA market. So that leaves the Yankees.
Colon has said he doesn't want to play there. But that is the only team that can afford the $ his agent is looking for. Who's to say that King George won't go after Milwood, Escobar, or resigning Pettitte? In the end the Sox deal may have been the best one out there for him. Colon wanted $12M, and he liked playing here. I think he got talked out of it by his agent. The Sox gave him the best deal - it works out for everyone.
I do not fault the Sox organization - this is simply the case of an agent's greed. But if your the agent - this is your client's one shot at the BIG payday. It's hard to pass up.
It is an interesting scenario unfolding.
Red Sox are capped out basically. Bart said he does want to be a Yankee. The Dodgers are capped out. Seattle is tapped out, as is Arizona. Atlanta is cutting payroll, as are the Rangers. The Cubs can't and aren't going to pay $15 mil. The Mets are in a youth movement. The Angels seem to be trying for Tejada. Houston is talking to Pettite. The Phillies are looking to spend their money in the pen. The Giants aren't going to be big spenders. Teams such as Detroit, Montreal, KC, Cleveland, Florida, Tampa Bay, Oakland, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Colorado, Toronto, Cincinnati have no money to spend. The Cardinals want starting pitching, but can only afford to deal salary for salary.
Really the only teams that have that kind of money this off season are San Diego and Baltimore. Both those teams seem to be looking more at impact hitters, but would they be interested in Colon at $15 mil per year?