A-Rod "yanked" by Bronx Bombers

The 2003-2004 Major League Baseball off-season has, without a doubt, been one of the most unforgettable in its history, as some marquis players have found new homes.

This includes players like Ivan "Pudge Rodriguez, Vladimir Guerrero, Miguel Tejada and Curt Schilling.

However, February 15, 2004 will forever be remembered by baseball fans as the day when Alex Rodriguez, the reigning American League MVP, was traded to the New York Yankees for All-Star second basemen Alfonso Soriano.

This deal, easily one of the biggest trades in MLB history, not only gives the Yankees the best all-around player in the game, but to put it very simply, an offense lineup that is just sickening.

It also marks the first time an MVP was traded in the same off-season in which he was crowned.

The Yankees lineup now includes five MVP's (if you count the three Hideki Matsui won in Japan), two World Series MVPs, two Rolaids Relief Man Awards, 16 Gold Gloves and a Rookie of the Year.

If you ask me, it would be a disappointing season for George Steinbrenner and his club if they did not win 145 games and the World Series.

You almost have to feel sorry for the other teams in the AL Eastern Division.

The Boston Red Sox signed free agents Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke, while spending most of the off-season trying to acquire A-Rod, only to come up about $20 million short.

The Baltimore Orioles beefed up their lineup by inking Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez and Rafael Palmeiro.

The Toronto Blue Jays signed a few players here and there in hopes of staying in the hunt, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays... well, they're just hopeless to begin with.

Regardless, these clubs will have their work cut out for them if they want to stop the Yankees from winning their seventh straight division title.

According to ESPN.com, the Yankees will spend $72,013 per nine innings to employ a lineup that includes A-Rod, Gary Sheffield, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada.

This doesn't even take into consideration the cash they dished out to acquire pitchers Kevin Brown and Javier Vasquez.

All in all, the acquisition of A-Rod has surged their annual payroll to over $160 million, with their nearest competitor, the Los Angeles Dodgers, supporting a seemingly meek $115 million.

So what does baseball need?

Is the salary cap the answer?

What if they just exiled George Steinbrenner to some far off island in the Pacific, or maybe some of the other owners should start emptying their pockets if they want to compete with the Bronx Bombers?

This trade should be a reality check for baseball and should have the commissioner, players and owners scrounging for answers.

Either way, the only way the Yankees could possibly have a losing season in 2004 is if the injury bug strikes, Yankee stadium is vaporized by a nuclear warhead, or the "Curse of the Bambino" smiles down upon the city Boston and reverses itself.