Anybody is "worth" whatever someone is willing to pay them. If the money didn't go to the "overpaid"
players it would go into the pockets of the owners.

That said, here's my take on the trade:

If I had $10 million, I wouldn't much care if I had another $2 million. If the Yankees average 6 runs a game without A. Rod and the pitching holds up, they'd win maybe 110. If they average 6.3 runs a game with A. Rod (don't forget--they didn't get him for nothing as a free agent. We have to subtract Soriano"s ofense), they'll win maybe another 2 or 3 games. That's all I figure he's worth to them: 2 or 3, or maybe 5 extra wins.

That could mean a lot to a team battling for a wild card spot, or a team battling for first in a wide open division, but the Yanks were a lock to make the playoffs before the deal, so trading for A. Rod doesn't figure to make that much difference.

How far the Yanks go will depend, as usual, on pitching, as it usually does in the post season.