The Yankees’ spending spree this offseason doesn’t worry the Red Sox – at least according to outspoken outfielder Jonny Gomes.
Wednesday’s signing of Japanese sensation Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year, $155 million contract (plus a $20 million posting fee) brought the Yankees’ winter tab north of $500 million. The Yankees also shelled out for catcher Brian McCann and outfielders Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury, who left the defending champion Red Sox.
Yet Gomes said he isn’t concerned about Boston’s bitter rival.
“People can go out and sign whoever they want right now — I mean, boxing rules, we still have the belt,” he told the Boston Herald. “It’s kind of flattering a little bit that the intraleague rival does have to reload as much as they did.”
Gomes went on to question some of the Yankees’ moves.
“It’s kind of interesting, though – $500 million and still, some questions,” he said. “You’ve got McCann who hasn’t been in the American League before. The pitcher [Tanaka] who hasn’t pitched a game over here. They’ve got some guys playing different positions.”
While the Yankees have been busy opening the checkbook, the Red Sox have been mostly quiet after winning their third World Series in the past 10 years, save for the addition of catcher A.J. Pierzynski and outfielder Grady Sizemore.
“It’s about winning the summer,” Gomes said, taking one last shot at the Yankees. “It’s not about winning the winter. That’s what we’re going to try to do again.”