Owners of big-market teams are upset that the Marlins receive MLB’s heftiest revenue-sharing payouts (about $50MM annually) despite having a new stadium, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports writes. “They’re a joke,” says one anonymous executive, who points out that the Marlins receive even more revenue-sharing funds than the Rays or A’s, who continue to struggle with stadium issues. Heyman cites sources, however, who say owner Jeffrey Loria is also frustrated at the Marlins’ situation and has written the team checks each year to cover its financial shortfalls. When the Marlins have spent, they haven’t always spent well, but Heyman points out that the Miami market might be most to blame for their troubles. Here’s more out of Miami.
- Marlins president David Samson says that agent Scott Boras will not be part of any conversations the team has about his client Jose Fernandez‘s workload, according to ESPN News Services. Boras was, of course, previously involved in a high-profile disagreement with the Mets over their usage of Matt Harvey. The dispute with the Marlins, though, stems from Boras’ comments about the team’s handling of another one of his clients, Marcell Ozuna, who was demoted last season and who is ineligible for arbitration this winter as a result. “My strong suggestion to Mr. Boras is that instead of resting on his five percent that he collects from his stable of players, he write a check and buy a team,” says Samson. “Until that time, he is in no position to comment how any Major League Baseball team is operated.” Peter Gammons tweets, however, that Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill spoke to Boras to resolve the situation with Fernandez.
- Hill says the Marlins have already contacted backup catcher Jeff Mathis about the possibility of re-signing, reports MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro. It’s not automatic Mathis will sign, however, despite what ought to be a relatively low salary (he made $1.5MM last year) and three straight seasons of OPSes below .600. Mathis is popular in the clubhouse, Frisaro notes, and there isn’t a ton of catching depth available on the free agent market.
If the Miami market is to blame, then move the Marlins out of the Miami market. The stadium is already a sunk cost and I am sure there are fans in San Antonio, Charlotte, or Montreal that would love to have them as their team. Well, maybe not Loria, but I’m sure they would take him if it meant getting a big league team.
Umm.. I, and believe a couple others wrote live on this as it was happening. it would be very hard now. State paid most all the 400m involved, VERY large kickbacks to local officials (go figure, Miami) and several are already in prison over this. I really doubt this team moves, if only the fact it’s a new stadium and has virtually -0- owner financing, ALL tax dollars.
Do agree it’s a lousy team, lousy area, lousy ownership.. Can go on down the list of lousy’s.. Florida native and Miami, as the saying goes, ain’t what it used to be.
Tampa and Oakland both have yet to secure financing, plus both have 2 of the worst stadiums in the game. While The Fish, as a franchise would seem a better candidate, for say Montreal, the stadium situation makes Oakland and Tampa more fitting. It’s awfully hard sticking a 400m dollar brand new stadium left unused on a community. No excuse can atone for that.
Awfully hard, but not impossible. Like I said, the stadium is already a sunk cost. Plus Miami could possibly get an MLS franchise to play there. Either way, it is not MLB’s responsibility to maintain a presence in a city that doesn’t support its franchise, nor should it be. I do agree that Tampa and Oakland will probably move as well, Tampa more so than Oakland, but I foresee them going to Charlotte or Nashville and Portland or San Jose respectively.
Maybe even OKC or New Orleans?
Populations:
San Antonio: 1.41M
Montreal: 1.65M
Charlotte: 0.79M
OKC: 0.61M
New Orleans: 0.38M
San Jose: 0.99M
Portland: 0.61M
Vancouver: 0.60M
San Juan, PR: 0.39M
Havana: 2.10M
City with the most money per capita (not market): San Jose.
City that failed at having a team due to baseball not being a top two sport in the nation: Montreal.
It’s beyond ridiculous the A’s are being prevented by the Giants to not allowed to move further away from them, to a city with more people and money than Oakland (0.41M).
I could see a new expansion team in OKC, but unless MLB is planning on realigning, I don’t see anyone moving there unless it is already a Central team.
Both Tampa and Miami baseball should be moved . Orlando would have been a better place to have a mlb team! But Florida is not a two team state
Florida and Arizona are both fantastic as Spring Training sites, but you are right, they are just too hot for outdoor baseball in July and August.
Tampa would have been a good place for baseball if all the jobs didn’t leave. The ballpark feels like a tin can. Grow in Florida seems to be slow in most of Florida. Orlando has a love of baseball and being in the middle you draw more fans
The biggest problem with Florida and Arizona is that a big chunk of the residents are not lifelong residents. The majority of seniors that retire there are not suddenly going to become Rays or Marlins fans. They are sticking with the teams that they grew up rooting for. They may go to games to see the Yankees or Red Sox or Phillies or whichever city they relocated from, but that’s not going to help sell tickets to a June game with the White Sox or the Padres.
Yes most of Florida is old or snow birds but there are a lot of young people here also. but the price of a game in Florida is too high compare to the pay in Florida not much of a chance to get two team support
How much exactly does one have to make in order to afford a 10$ decent ticket to a Rays game? I’ve heard this one aplenty. Sure, when they build a decent stadium, the cheap ticket prices will pretty much go away for good, tho for now? 10 bucks (or less) is easy as pie and that isn’t bleacher seats either.
I go with my son, who works in Tampa sometimes, those are not the worst of seats. Now.. They jack up pricing for Boston and NYY, but everyone else is decent prices.
Right To Work state may keep some wages down (according to some), but it shouldn’t make a 10$ ticket out of the price range of very many.
Most people here are on S.S. The people that work are making very low pay. And I have not seen a ticket for ten dollars here. 37 for crap seats in OF area is what I paid plus parking . But Tampa has a lot of people that can’t even find jobs.cost of living here is also not comparable to the pay
I been to a few games here yet to see ten dollars seats you got a good deal.But living so far away I can only come over on weekend games
They should just sign cespedes And gallardo and Avila All perfect fits then trade ozuna for bauer and then when the team starts winning they will get tickets
Yeah.. Very least Eastern part of Tampa for the new stadium.
Some mild hope with St. Petersburg giving them a way out last month, albeit an expensive one.. You know.. That 50m Loria gets every year via handout would way more than cover the extortion fees the St. Petersburg city council wants to let Sternberg break that monstrous lease, yet have read very little on it since both parties came to agreement?
I don’t think there is any agreement between the Rays and St Pete. The city council came to an agreement on how much to charge but the Rays have not agreed to pay that much.
not to mention Las Vegas, and Portland, Oregon…many cities that would love to have a team, or even an expansion team if they go to 32 teams in the league
Andrew Susac and Chris Heston for Ozuna. Enough to start a dialogue?
Marlins already have a young catcher in Realmuto. Thinking they’d rather acquire a more reliable stater than Heston
Didn’t know that. Just spitballing with the Giants two most obvious trade pieces.
I don’t think it’s too controversial a comment to make that MLB has been a dismal failure in Florida since day one. Its a situation MLB itself has seemingly put no effort into fixing, unlike they did in Texas. It is a total joke the Marlins get more money than the A’s and Rays though.
How did it fix Texas?
Well put Mr. Samson!!!
Florida should never have gotten two teams. At this point looks like the Rays will be the ones to relocate. Nashville,San Antonio,Montreal and Charlotte could be nice destination.
Not San Antonio or Nashville. That would require realigning the divisions due to time differences/travel.
Division realignment would be simple if the MLB adds 2 expansion teams and have the north, south, east, and west division.
Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in America. I think they would be in consideration. Just don’t have a Ballpark ready.
Charlotte won’t happen.
Really? Why not? It would be my first choice for an East relocation city.
Because the Orioles and Nats would fight it
Boston problems: Overpay for a top-3 reliever with 2 top 100 prospects and two other solid prospects, and still have the best 3B prospect in the minors (Devers), who may get to the bigs before he gets his braces off, two Catchers who have been categorized as potential franchise catchers (Swihart and Vazquez), a ton of graduated top prospects who may not have a roster spot (Brian Johnson, E-Rod, Henry Owens, Matt Barnes, Garin Cecchini, Bradley Jr, Shaw) and an up-and-coming outfielder in Andrew Beineteindi. I think it’s safe to say everyone in their scouting department deserves a raise.
Its about damn time that somebody stood up to Boras! Good job Mr. Samson!
Boras is a cancer on ass of baseball
I know it would never happen but I wish MLB would switch the Rays and Marlins. I would like to see what the Rays management team could do in the Miami market. At least then the Marlins would have a reason to collect all that money.
Funny, I moved down to the Miami area 3 years ago and have been saying the same thing ever since.
Good solid lefty catcher and they need him good fit
Great example of terrible planning all around. The taxpayer financed stadium with very questionable antecedents and no strings attached–crony capitalism at its worst, with a strong taint of favoritism/corruption. A difficult location with a fan a base that has other distractions. Poor ownership, enabled by the previous commissioner, who clearly had an agenda–MLB buying Loria out, Loria buying out John Henry so Henry could by the Red Sox–for reportedly a lower price, MLB sitting on the franchise until the Nats came in. Market forces were never allowed to come into play–there was always a deep pocket. I’m not surprised if some the rest of the owners are piqued.
Ah, the Loria-Henry-Werner affair.
Tom Werner has the distinction of holding so thorough of a fire sale that he got sued into refunding season ticket holders back in his Padres days. Praise the deity of your choice he lost out of the commissioner’s chair.