It is hard for any one person to imagine what they would do if given $400 million dollars. It would be even harder if told they had to spend it all at once. A person could buy a mansion, a yacht, hundreds of pieces of artwork by the world’s most renowned artists, donate it to help fight AIDS and starvation in Africa, or even use it to explore the world’s most beautiful and mysterious places. However, some might use the $400 million on new contracts for three of the most expensive baseball players in league, just as the New York Yankees have recently done.

During the 2008 off-season the Yankees added pitchers AJ Burnett and C.C. Sabathia, along with first baseman Mark Teixeira.

“Some people think that the Yankee spending was irresponsible with the current economy, but I guess my logic is, if you have the money, spend it,” senior James Pratt said. Pratt has been a Yankees fan since he was seven. “The Yankees were disappointing last season, especially with the playoffs.”

Last season was the first since 1993 that the team didn’t make the postseason, which left a bad taste in the mouth of the Yankees “money-man” and owner, George Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner and the Yankees have recently begun revving up their team in an attempt to change their standings from last season’s third place finish. According to the New York Post, the team dropped three of their more expensive players, making them more financially capable for the salaries of their new players.

The Yankees are technically spreading the $400 million over the next eight years, and regardless of their new contracts, they will spend approximately $20 to 30 million less on their players than last season, according to the Post.

In addition to players’ contracts, the Yankees are opening a new stadium that’s end estimated cost is close to a billion dollars.

When asked if greed has consumed major league baseball, sophomore Jordan Nelson said, “I hope players still love the game and don’t get greedy, but I can’t help but notice that money does play a part.”

Nelson takes the same stand as Pratt when it comes to the Yankees spending.

“I don’t care too much for the Yankees,” Nelson said. “They are one of the wealthiest teams in the league, which isn’t fair to other teams, as there is no salary cap. But I also don’t think (the spending) is bad; if they have the money to do it, you can’t say anything. They didn’t make the playoffs, which is huge for Yankee baseball. I guess they had to do something.”

Red Sox fan and senior Anthony Inangelo sees the Yankees attempts to make a comeback as futile.

“I think that the amount of money they spent was ridiculous, but I guess it will make it that much funnier if they don’t make the playoffs again,” Inangelo said. “I could be mad about the fact that they have so much money to throw away but I like to laugh at them instead.”

The only question remaining is if Teixeira, Burnett and Sabathia are the impact players that the team needs.

Teixeira had a .308 batting average in the 2008 season, with 102 runs; Sabathia’s ERA (earned run average) was 1.65 and Burnett’s was 1.78 last season. These all-star players have proven their worth in previous seasons; the true test comes in 2009, when they are playing for one team.