I did some research this am (with a whopper of hangover, I'll have you know) and here's what the finances look like.

Stadium operations (tickets and concessions) will exceed $200 million. (Think about the 4 million they're going to draw and the $90 boxes that make up the plurality of the seats)  TV revenue is going to be about $100 million. Advertising (all advertising) and radio are not available but looking at some numbers from the past should put these numbers at $50mm. They own the stadium. (there's a great article in Baseball prospectus on how stadium construction is a deductible item in the luxury tax accounting and how all of baseball will bear a substanital amount of the cost of the new stadium.)

Simply put,the Yanks are financially healthy this year, big surprise,  at this or a even higher salary structure. They can spend more if they want to.

Yes they've spent almost $200mm on salaries this year. That's a substantial investment but all existing costs are sunk costs. They don't matter when you have to make a calculation whether future spending will be appropriate. Do they need a centerfielder and another very good bat? Will it make it more likely they will succeed?

Sunk costs aside, It does look a lot worse if they don't go to the playoffs. Like bad enough to fire the GM.

Each playoff game at Yankee stadium generates $5mm in ticket revenue alone. If Griffey gets them into the playoffs, which I think it would, 2 home games pay for this year and most of next year's salary and luxury tax. And that's if they picked all his salary.

Which, as I a metioned earlier, is why I think Cashman is laying in the weeds. The scenario I laid puts the Reds in a corner and they get Griffey at a lower price.

Going to take a nap now