SSKILLZ1, having Putz and K-Rod should shorten most Met games to 6 innings.
Comparable to having Joba and Rivera in the last two innings.
With the Yankees it's addition by subtraction:
Players that came off the books after the 2008 season:
1B Jason Giambi–$21M, $5M buyout for 2009
RF Bobby Abreu–$16M
SP Andy Pettitte–$16M
SP Mike Mussina–$11M
SP Carl Pavano–$11M
RP Kyle Farnsworth–$5.5M
RP LaTroy Hawkins–$3.75M (Source)
This adds up to $79.25M, this being calculated with the $5M buyout.
Veteran players with big contracts are being replaced with expensive younger players with more upside.
Giving Sabathia $23 million makes more sense than past decisions to overpay for a Kevin Brown or Randy Johnson.