Via Pete Abe over at LoHud:

Bobby Abreu made $16 million, Andy Pettitte made $16 million and Pudge Rodriguez made $13 million. All three would have been in a position to get at least as much via arbitration and likely some sort of raise.

Meanwhile, if Mike Mussina suddenly decides to play for somebody else, the Yankees get nothing in return. Sure, that’s extremely unlikely. But that was supposedly the case for Roger Clemens, too.

Cashman said the Yankees remain engaged with Pettitte and Abreu. To what degree isn’t certain. Today’s decision certainly indicates they want Andy back only at a pay cut and the same would be true of Abreu.

Seems a little strange to me, splitting hairs. They want Pettitte and Abreu to take pay cuts if they come back, sure- but just how much of a cut are they thinking? $3-4 M? More? Abreu for one year in the neighborhood of $16M ain't so bad IMO, especially when the downside is getting a draft pick if he goes elsewhere. And is Pudge really going to accept arbitration from the Yanks?

In a later post by Pete, he says Cashman explains it was all about spending control. If so, the Yankees really seem to balking at spending at spending maybe an extra $4-5M on one year deals? Used to be chump change... is this a new era beginning in the Bronx?