Now that the ink on Gerrit Cole’s contract is dry, Brett Gardner may be next on the docket, per the SNY Network’s Andy Martino. Though there’s no explicit mention of the Yankees, it’s easy to presume Gardner will return to the Bronx for a thirteenth season. At 35-years-old, Gardner had perhaps the best season of his career in 2019, and he did so while capably manning centerfield for much of it. The slap-hitting Gardner put forth an uncharacteristic power display, smashing 28 home runs with a .503 SLG – just the fourth time he’s ever slugged over .400 and the first time he’s ever eclipsed the .430 SLG mark. Before we get sucked into Yankee-mania again, let’s take a look at what’s happening elsewhere in the AL East…
- The incentives for the Boston Red Sox to slip under the luxury tax line in 2020 are manyfold, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Because of higher penalties for repeat offenders, Boston could save themselves close to $100MM in tax penalties over the course of the next three seasons. Of course, to do so, they’ll need to get under the $208MM tax line. Another benefit takes into account a worst case scenario. Should Mookie Betts sign elsewhere as a free agent next year, the Red Sox could improve their compensation from a pick after the fourth round to a pick after the second round. They could also miss out on a potentially hefty revenue sharing rebate that will come from the phase out of Oakland’s revenue-sharing subsidies. Oakland’s market size has been superseded by lack of revenue, thus placing them among the revenue-sharing recipients, but their free ride is coming to an end. That money will be dispersed among the large-market, revenue-sharing contributors, perhaps proportionately so. That would be a boon for the Red Sox, but they risk forfeiture of the reward if they continue to spend over the tax. Hence, the David Price auction rolls ever onward.
- The once far-fetched idea of splitting time between Florida and Montreal now may be the only way the Rays maintain a presence in Tampa Bay, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The timeshare agreement won’t likely take effect until 2028. If an agreement can’t be put in place, principal owner Stuart Sternberg is more likely to find a new location for the Rays or sell the team to someone else who will. A full-time move to Montreal is not in the cards, should Sternberg keep the team, as he thinks there are better full-time markets available. Which markets, exactly, is not yet clear. If this timeshare agreement doesn’t come together, however, the Rays may start the search for a new home in earnest. There are many potential snags to the timeshare plan, one of which is that new stadiums would likely have to be built in both markets. It’s hard to imagine how building two stadiums roughly 1,500 miles apart is the best solution, but that’s the plan for now.
Kayrall
MLB really needs to scrap the luxury tax limits.
whynot 2
Why?
Foreveryankees
If you can’t run with the big dogs get off the porch!!
chris5
If I can’t run with the big dogs then I’m definitely going to stay here on the porch.
dimitrios in la
If you don’t have any dogs to legitimately run with people stop watching.
whynot 2
If you can’t run with the big dogs get off the porch and pet then, play fetch with them, give them some treats!!
sufferforsnakes
Some big dogs need to be neutered.
Begamin
Guess thats how people feel when you root for a team whos owners are cheapskates and let the Twins beat them out instead of spending to keep building on a good team
sufferforsnakes
I actually respect how the Indians are run, and that they don’t get buried/burdened by these dumb massive contracts.
Oh, and they still have a good team….and are aligned to have that for years to come.
SG
Little dogs bite off the sausage of the big dogs.
Begamin
They have a good team that will never be good enough. They are declining and losing players left and right. If the Indians dump Lindor its over for them.
DarkSide830
it encourages cheapness and signing free agents to below their actual values. things look to be improving this offseason, but a floor is better than a cap. make everyone spend more rather than less.
Foreveryankees
Totally agree!!!
Michael Fan
I think this is going to be the biggest part of the next CBA. They are going to have to pay the young players more because they are not getting as much in FA unless they are a mega star like Harper/Cole/Stras. BB needs a floor like $1.5-2m.
southbeachbully
@DarkSide830
Based on the recent signings I would say the vets towards the end of their careers are the ones being hurt in the FA market but I can’t say it’s not warranted. But Cole, Sras and Wheeler all received contracts for more than what was expected.
pustule bosey
i think everything needs to be restructured, for one arb needs to happen starting the second calendar year of a player, service time should be measured by the calendar year , not by time (having either August or sept as the start of the following year to still allow callups). it will suck for vets for a few years that will get stiffed but the should be some kind of compensation for the transition period.
JoeBrady
BB needs a floor like $1.5-2m.
————————————
Are you going to write a check to MLB to make up the difference?
Javia
Luxury Tax keeps the rich from outspending everyone. Salary floor forces the poorest teams to spend. So steal from the poor to feed the rich? That would make you Prince John/Sheriff of Nottingham as opposed to Robin Hood. How does it feel being the bad guy?
Begamin
The poorest teams are generally not that poor. The Rays’ owner isnt the poorest owner in the league by any stretch of the imagination and yet they spend the lowest out of all teams. If they spent more money they couldve possibly taken the AL East. The Pirates had a playoff team some-odd years ago and they refused to spend and capitalize on the team, now look at them.
A floor would help the league create more competitive teams.
the kutch
I wouldn’t…I chip in, one $15 beer at a time….
pullhitter445
Kayrall terrible take. Majority of the leagues teams wouldn’t operate to the standards of revenue the Yankees, dodgers, Red Sox, and cubs do. Unless those teams want to do revenue share then no shot that happens.
TheTrotsky
There is revenue sharing already. What do you think they do with luxury tax payments?
AtlSoxFan
Jersey/merchandise sales and royalties are lumped for Rev sharing except what is sold at physical team stores in the ballpark.
Robert16
TheTrotsky, that was pullhitter445’s entire point. I believe he was referring to only the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Cubs (and other major market teams) doing revenue sharing ON THEIR OWN if there were no payroll tax as called for by Kayrall. Kayrall’s idea is short-sighted and would end competition in baseball because smaller market teams could never afford to compete with the major market teams – which is why the payroll tax was implemented in the first place.
madmanTX
MLB needs a hard cap. Where are players going to go to make more money? Japan? Good luck.
RBI
Why does MLB need a salary cap? Obviously there are existing cash flows to support the salaries. A cap only allows more of that cash flow to be kept by owners, who clearly do not need it because they are putting it towards salaries.
PinstripedPride
You must be a Pirates fan or some small market. Trying to punish other teams for the stinginess of your team’s owner?
oriole
It’s cute how Yankees fans defend spending ridiculously…you guys totally deserve every win. The franchise sure did work super hard for it. Definitely not a financial juggernaut, for sure!
southbeachbully
@oriole
It hasn’t been the Yanks handing out $300 mil contracts in the last 5-8 years it’s been other big market teams. Even the Padres are issuing ground breaking deals.
William Judge
Agreed, they need to find a way to move to a relegation type model like the premiership. Certain cities should not have highest level Major league franchises when they don’t have the fan base that supports it. Larger cities that do, need a better system in place to challenge those franchises dominance.
Robertowannabe
Actually the fans of about 20 teams feel that their should be a cap and a floor like the 3 other major sports in the USA. Only about 5-6 teams can take the risk of a anything like a 7+ year deal for over $200 million. No one else can go for the best players.
JRamHOF
Pirates fans have every reason to be frustrated with cheap ownership
AtlSoxFan
Which teams, exactly, ate the 5-6 you reference?
I can count more than that who have signed players to contracts with an AAV of about 29m or higher…
fits65
Certainly more brain power than Peter Angelos has displayed.. Speaking of financial juggernaut, is that spelled D-A-V-I-S?
DarkSide830
Adam Jones says hi
Just_a_thought
A hard cap only keeps the top 5 payroll teams closer to each other. A cap does nothing to force the lower payroll teams to approach even close to the cap unless a cap is set closer to $150MM. If such were to happen, I hope you don’t enjoy actually watching baseball at all because a strike from the players would immediately ensue since this limitation directly and adversely impacts their salary potential.
phamdownbytheriver
No, what they need is what every other sport teams have…a salary cap and floor. Eliminate the luxury tax so that teams like the Rays can spend practically nothing on payroll and still collect millions.
luclusciano
So – revenue share? A cap puts more money in the pockets of the owners. It is not like they are hurting. Let them spend that money on the players
camdenyards46
So the Red Sox can spend 300M while the teams that spend 150 are disadvantaged? I’m not talking about the penny pinching Rays, I’m talking about teams that spend a decent amount compared to their market
Whodoirootfor
Get a hard cap you go over you loose draft picks
luclusciano
To be fair – the nationals were closer to that 150 than 200 – not to disadvantaged last year.
Just FYI – it would not be a hard cap if you go over. They have it now – it’s the luxury tax – hit them in the pockets, that’s where it makes a difference.
KremeCheez
The Nats had an opening day payroll of $180M last year. You can do the math. Their end of year 40-man tally (the luxury tax figure) was over $200M.
kingbum
NBA CBA clearly states 47% of all revenue is to be spent on the players. That’s what the players need to push for in the CBA a number around that. You got to have a floor keeping owners from pocketing money and you need a cap to keep the 6 big guys from outspending everyone. This tells ya you must spend 47% of revenue or just fold up and not be a team. Revenue sharing should come into play if the big 6 want to go over the cap. The floor will keep owners from abusing it.
deweybelongsinthehall
Idea seems logical but % to be fair might be higher or lower as each sport has different revenue streams and expenses.
Rusty Priske
You are right… it is much too weak. There should be a hard cap (and a floor).
William Judge
Agreed, they need to find a way to move to a relegation type model like the premiership. Certain cities should not have highest level Major league franchises when they don’t have the fan base that supports it. Larger cities that do, need a better system in place to challenge those franchises dominance.
elgarysanchino24
from what I’ve heard with the new CBA it’s either raised much higher or completely Gone as the Players Union really don’t like all the loop holes for smaller market teams it really needs to be Gone figure some other way for small market teams to prosper instead of Welfare from Teams that know how to make money…. put a Competitive team on the field that usually helps to sell tickets that lines the pockets of the owner to make money which gives them the opportunity to sign free agents just be fiscally intelligent about how you do things
Woodlawn
Let’s hope not… Gardner is a garbage can and of the Yankees are serious about winning they will cut bait with this garbage. He has never been more then a mediocre player at best, fails in the playoffs and should be spending his time as a slap hitting men’s beer league softball player, not playing for the Yankees
fair-critic
you’re delerious, Gardner is a reliable face of the franchise, defenseman, and overall player.
whynot 2
The guy is at best an annoyance … the whole banging on the ceiling of the dugout is childish. Then there is his inability to keep his rage under control, he going off at the slightest trigger
jopeness
1 out of 12 seasons you comment on. the other 11?
yes he was a little over the top last year, but there is more than silly highlight clips. aside from Boone’s savage clip, he’s a calm manager. therefore you need the fire/spark to come from somewhere. CC and garner were clubhouse leaders and filled those shoes. not to mention the umps were pretty horrible last year and statistically more for the yanks, esp in the ALCS. some of that is warranted. no one complains when the old guys used to throw the Gatorade out on to the field. everyone cheered.
whynot 2
Why waste a roster spot on a mascot, that is what you described.
AllRiseForTheJudge
The Astros were banging on trash cans. I’m fine with Gardy banging on the ceiling.
MoRivera 1999
whynot
Wildly overblown/overstated. Plus he was right on 9/10 strike calls he argued. I’d be angry too.
fits65
And Whiner Whynut is always complaining about Gardner along with his “friend” Melch. They can’t pick in CC any longer and they are temporarily cut off from their anti Cashman and Hal rants because they Yankees were smart economically for the time that they needed and had the resources and balls to pull out all the stops when they realized that Cole was the answer.
fits65
He will produce this year more than you have done in your entire lifetime BEFORE the 4th of July whiner Whynut
pasha2k
Popeye will spend his life as a NYY, perfectly so. Cashman will do right by him, as most teams should for their lifelong players who will prolly take a discount. Personally I hope the Bloom brings the Brockstar bk to Bodton.
Woodlawn
Fair-critic… takenyour yankee colored glasses off. He isnt and he never been the face of the franchise and a 4th OFer at best. He needs to go away, should have been gone years ago…
Eatdust666- Judge can man Caf until Hicks is back, or tauchman or honestly, any kid
Across the street nightly at VanCortland Park. Gardner is garbage dude.
jopeness
his lefty bat is important and a positive clubhouse presence is valuable. he is also the team prankster. you need that type of person on a team.
snotrocket
He can stay on the field, unlike the rest of the Yankees outfielders. There is value in that.
Begamin
You realize that a 4th OFer still has something to offer, right? No one is suggesting giving Gardner 300M. Not everyone on the team can be an allstar, either. Every team needs depth and Gardner is a great option for depth.
fits65
Hey Woody-go to Flushing to watch your baseball. Only dopes like you would say that about a player who’s leadership is admired all over baseball.
Just another rant by a troll…maybe Melch with a different identity now.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Defenseman? He should suit up for the Islanders.
Eatdust666
So who would be their starting center fielder with Hicks out for the entire 2020 season if you get your wish of the Yankees not keeping Gardner?
dynamite drop in monty
Chad Curtis
A'sfaninLondonUK
Ellsbury if they pay him
chino31
Mickey Rivers
mike156
I just don’t get the Gardner hate. 41.6 BWAR over a 12 year career, 17th on the active list, Stays in shape, one season in the last ten below 2.8 WAR (and that was lost to injury). Useful player that can do a number of things. Definitely not a star, but so what?
dobsonel
The Gardner hate comes from fans who don’t actually watch the games.
whynot 2
The dude has some rage issues which leads to inevitable questions…
southbeachbully
@whynot
Gardner doesn’t have any “rage issues”. He was ejected twice for arguing a call and once for banging his bat on the Yankee dugout roof. Somehow it even became a “thing” the Yanks did when they got a big hit as the hitter would pretend he was banging on the roof. You’re acting as if he’s been ejected several times. I can’t remember him being ejected before 2019. He’s nothing like Ortiz who destroyed the dugout phone with his bar, almost hitting Pedroia and the proceeded to hurl water coolers on to the field. Even with Ortiz, that’s light stuff. People completely overreact to what Gardner did.
whynot 2
Look up pictures from the August 9 game, his raged out nature is in full display. Even with his own manager in his face he couldn’t control himself.
rocky7
Rage issues? You must be a progress liberal seeing issues with nothing but hard nosed tough play….guess you would have thrown George Brett into jail also with his pine tar bat tirade….oh that’s probably right….you don’t know who George Brett is!!!!!Right!
Begamin
+whynot
Yes, because no one ever argues with the umps, gets ejected, or gets mad. You nailed it what a scumbag
foh loser, try so hard to criticize a guy you dont know and go as far as pretending you know his personality. All reports say he is a good clubhouse presence
Core4
What are u talking about?lol We would be blessed to have the rest of baseball to all play the game like Brett Gardner.. The guys all heart and soul. . Plays hard all the time at a time that’s not so commonplace anymore.
Gardner is more Pete Rose on the field when your painting him out to be more Carlos Gomez
whynot 2
The guy severely over reacted and acted like a clown. There is a very large gap between me saying the guy is annoying for his fits of rage to saying someone should go to jail. Maybe you need to find better ways to spend your time
fits65
There is a large gap Whynut between your ears. You are missing a brain which allows human beings to THINK.
You don’t have to posses that high a baseball IQ to realize that the bat created a rallying point for the team. With a 162 game grind (plus spring and post season) defining moments create chemistry.
You wouldn’t know that Whynut because your head lacks a brain and you don’t know what to look for when you watch the game.
Since the Mrs. shut off any services to you years ago, you were interpreting the bat gestures as a sexual provocation and there was nobody to finish the job.
Keep whining and the Mrs. will be providing us more insight.
snotrocket
I don’t get it either. He was their best outfielder last year.
Louiebeans
Brett Gardner- Entire post season career
184 ABs
2 Homeruns
.196 Average
.511 OPS
Brett Gardner The Leader October With The Dead Bats Society.
fits65
Welcome to the convo Beans. You are in the same predicament with Whynut, though at a more advanced stage with Mrs. Beans who continues to have a signed Brett Gardner photo taped on the mirror above your sink. She sent me a
Text/photo—I love Brett’s comments above his autograph:
“To Louie-It’s time to man up to be worthy for your wifey.. Best, Gardy”.
rocky7
Its called jealousy over a veteran player who comes to play each and every day he’s at the ballpark whether he’s in the. lineup or not.
luckyh
Exactly. I don’t understand it either. I am a Red Sox fan and have always admired him. He’s a dirt dog that leads by example. Give the guy some respect.
nymetsking
Houston suddenly just became interested in Gardner.
whynot 2
He is deadly with a bat but only in the dugout. What out ceiling and trash cans
southbeachbully
@Woodlawn
If not Gardner then who and what cost? Gardner has provided great defense and can play CF and LF. Being that Hicks is going to miss significant time it doesn’t make sense to NOT bring Gardner back until better options present themselves. Besides. a team that has so many other offensive options it seems stupid to place blame on Gardner when he fails to hit in the post-season. He at least brings value on the bases and in the field.
kingbum
You have to actually hit to get on base
Begamin
Did you forget that if a pitcher throws you 4 balls before 3 strikes that you get to get on base without having to hit the ball?
fits65
Or that a batter that makes a pitcher throw 10-12 pitches in the 7th inning just gave the next batter a huge advantage.
Losers like Whynut and Melchy don’t know what to look for in a game when momentum is changing. They are too busy changing their own Depends diapers.
billysbballz
Happ will be dealt next.
Yanks will look to move a prospect with him to potentially get a middle reliever.
Yanks will try and resign Betances at their price and also look to bring back Gardner for one last hoorah.
Roster is set unless they shock us and try and make a deal to get out of Hicks or Stanton contract and replace with another bad contract that fits on roster? Highly doubt it, looks like roster is set other then back up catcher.
billysbballz
Ohhhh if Indians decide to deal Lindor the Yanks now have Andujar, Devi, and Frazier ready to send but I hope the Yanks don’t deal the young kids.
Chris Giarraputo
What? U don’t want a 26yo top SS for 2 defensive liabilities with 1 1/2 years of experience between them and 1 tiny SP who is 20yo? You have high standards and don’t know how to judge talent. Lindor is a stud. Torres is growing like a weed and he’s better at 2nd as he can grow into a 35+ HR threat with high average
bronxbombers
Grow into 35homers? He hit 38 this year
southbeachbully
@Chris Giarraputo
Not saying Didi is better than Lindor but I would’ve rather have kept Didi then trade the assets for Lindor. Indians would want more than that package anyway. Not necessarily from us, but from other teams. But it makes sense to go with Torres at SS and DJ at 2nd than to try and get Lindor.
southbeachbully
@billysbballz
Stanton isn’t being traded until he proves he’s healthy and productive but even then his market will be small. Imo, let the guy play. Why take back a bad contract when he has the ability to be above average? He had injury concerns. It’s not like he performed poorly in 2018. Relax. And same with Hicks. His contract is far from being an albatross. Let’s the team focus on alternatives to try and keep these guys on the field.
Begamin
Theyre not going to try and trade Stanton or Hicks.
But maybe Happ (where Yanks eat part of his contract) and a mid-tier prospect (someone out of their top 30 or near the bottom) to the A’s for Treinen?
Begamin
Actually, scratch that. Treinen just signed with LAD… i didnt know A’s let him go. I swear the A’s were publicly shopping Treinen, Profar, and someone else (i forget) not too long ago lol
dynamite drop in monty
As a Sox fan let me share
My excitement over these riveting tax savings!!! This is what fandom is all about, John Henry buying a sixth yacht!
Polar Girl
It might be his fastest yacht yet. You might get over awed at how fast it can travel from Boston to Liverpool, UK and how much money bled out of the Red Sox it can carry onboard to Liverpool that gets put into the football club he owns there.
No more need for expensive flights. Savings…savings….savings FTW!!!
jopeness
gotta afford Saleh.
AtlSoxFan
Don’t forget roush racing team
JoeBrady
As a Sox fan let me share My excitement over these riveting tax savings!!!
——————————————–
LOL! As a RS fan, under Henry, I have 4 new RS sweatshirts that say WSC on them. I have absolutely no problem with them spending a year under the cap.
What some fans don’t understand is the benefits for getting under the cap once. Better draft choices, more international spending and, this is a big one, getting under the cap makes it more likely to sign Betts after 2020.
If Betts salary is $35M for 2021, then our our cost is $49M. That’s a huge difference.
dynamite drop in monty
Congratulations on …. purchasing merchandise. I’ve been a Sox fan since 90 so I don’t need to be browbeaten about what I don’t “understand”.
luckyh
I agree. Mookie is not sticking around. He will leave for a dollar more. They made a strong effort to keep him and sign him long term. No complaints here.
creacher
Montreal is a better full time market Sternberg. Get out of Florida and come up here. Those people are dying for a team
badco44
If they are so dying for a team… build a damn stadium already!
kingbum
Let’s ask the Nationals just how hungry Montreal is for a team…… It’s just another failed market if you are going to go to Canada try Calgary….. personally it might be time for the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico to get a team if it’s about fans and player. MLB is full of Latino players it’s time they have their own team if financially possible.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Did Sternberg inherit his money?
If not, he can’t be stupid enough to think that idea would work and this must be a (desperate) last ditch effort to twist Tampa’s arm.
therealryan
Everyone here continues to say that the Rays have no fans and are making huge money via TV, while attendance doesn’t matter. If that’s true, then bringing a second TV market and TV contract to the team should be a huge financial get for the owner.
Baseballfreak
Lindor, IMO will be a Yankee before it’s all said and done. If it just costs Andujar, Garcia and Frazier plus a fringe prospect, the Yankees will pull the trigger on that deal! Lindor will be Bronx bound and sign an extension when they win it all this year. Steinbrenner has finally gone all in on winning and bought all the yachts needed for at least a few years. He’s finally building a dynasty because the fans were getting restless. I feel the Cole contract will be an albatross but by the time they win a couple of championships, the desired effect will be worth the gamble. If they really want to solve a couple more issues, they could trade Stanton for Hosmer and throw in Ford and/or Voit to get a prospect back, preferably a pitching prospect. Hosmer would thrive with the short porch, it would clear SD of their mess and clear the Yankees of their mess. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am. That lineup with Lindor and Hosmer added is sick to the extreme and finally a stud pitcher to top their rotation. Dynasty for a few years there folks.
billysbballz
I would 100% deal Stanton and Ford for Hosmer. Stanton won’t waive but if he did this would be a good trade for both teams! Maybe the Yanks add in Hicks to unload another contract and get a Franchy Cordero or Manual Margot back.
southbeachbully
@billysbballz
Insane.
bighiggy
Wonder if jbj and david price could be had for Fowler, carpenter and a top 30 prospect? Cards would be taking on alot more overall payroll while filling holes and getting rid of redundancies and red sox would save a bunch of money long term and a little short term I believe,by switching to geico. I think fowler and carp could succeed in boston and help them. The prospect sent over could maybe be sosa, a utility guy with decent minors numbers that’s one of cards top 10 prospects.
VegasSDfan
Las Vegas Ray’s. The logo will switch to a Sun.
Baseball in the growing international market of Las Vegas.
billysbballz
Here’s a Yankees fan fantasy trade scenario following Cole signing:
1-Stanton waives to go to SD with Ford along with a mid level pitching prospect for Hosmer.
2-Devi Garcia, Miguel Andujar, Clint Frazier, and Thairo Estrada (ss) for Lindor
I’m gonna sit back now and get ready for the haters…..
AllRiseForTheJudge
Yankee fan here. Stanton ABD Ford are too much for Hosmer and his terrible contract, and SD probably can’t take back Stanton’s contract either.
It would be more like we take Hosmer and Myers for Stanton, Ford and another low level prospect.
Louiebeans
Can they take Gardner with them?
southbeachbully
@billysbballz
Sit back and wait for the drug effects to pass.
@AllRiseForTheJudge
And what you found absurd was the inclusion of Ford?
CrewBrew
incoming Angel fans: “glad we didnt get him. waste of money”
oldtimeyankee6242
The 37 year old 240 hitter Gardner stolen bases are down. Retire Brett don’t go out like a fool.
MoRivera 1999
As a temporary CF and otherwise 4th OF, he’s fine.
dcrising
The Luxury Tax threshold is $208M for 2020. $206M was the 2019 threshold.
Garmo87
Move the Rays to Nashville!!!
Ezpkns34
Can’t draw fans to one stadium, so the plan is for this chronically bottom attendance team to get 2 new stadiums?
Just when you think you’ve heard the dumbest ideas….
bobtillman
Oh Stuie knew the 2-city idea was never going to be truly implemented. He’s just holding on, grabbing his 50M or so in yearly profit, and waiting until the MLB powers that be re-do Revenue Sharing (almost certain with the new CBA) ,and at worse, begin to cut them out of that payday, a la Oakland.
At the end of the day, he never spent to bring the organization, well run though it may be, into the next level and actually build a fan base. As Scott Boras said yesterday, who knows what kind of base the Rays would have if they had actually gone the extra mile. It never happened; it’s never going to happen. Instead, it’s a world where they salary dump; that they do so well is irrelevant when considering brand building.
I’ll give him credit; he saw that when bold, innovative owners would build the brand and turn team ownership from a tax haven to real profit centers, the rising tide would carry all boats, because of MLB’s inevitable cooperative nature; simply, you need other teams to play. As such, he’s likely recouped his initial investment, made a few bucks, and sits on a One Billion dollar asset that he did nothing to grow himself. All while whining that while some teams increased 5 times in value, his only tripled.
Well Stuie, you pays your money and you gets your candy.
MoRivera 1999
They need a stadium in Tampa, not St. Pete. That would make a huge difference in attendance.
Just_a_thought
Does anyone know if Louiebeans is okay?? This article has the Yankees and Gardner in the title. Maybe since his usual, “Yankees are cheap” myth has been debunked, he is biding his time to concoct another nonsensical point to go along with his equally poorly developed “Brett Garbage” argument.
Old User Name
Word is that it was touch and go for a while but he is now resting comfortably.
Just_a_thought
I hope he fully recovers. I don’t feel safe as a baseball fan without our lord and Shepard (Louie) protecting us from the epitome of human evil (Brett Garbage).
Louiebeans
I’m alive and well!! The Cole news is music to my ears now if another team can sign Brett Garbage Yankees will win a WS in 2020. If they Sign Brett Garbage look for a 230 batting average and anoter 1-13 in the Post season.
Yankees don’t need to spend 10 million on a number 9 hitter.
Go out and get a younger faster high obp hitter
Signed
Louie BEANSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
chino31
They have Tyler Wade for almost league minimum
southbeachbully
@Just_a_thought
He won’t be around for a while. He swore the Yanks would do nothing this winter other than bring back Gardner.
phillyballers
By 2028 no one will be going to Tampa Ray’s games in Tampa.
Louiebeans
Is Houston upset maybe they could take Gardner away from the Yankees then we can see the kids really shine! Houston grab Gardner do us a favor.
Louiebeans
Brett Gardner- Entire post season career
184 ABs
2 Homeruns
.196 Average
.511 OPS
Brett Gardner The Leader October With The Dead Bats Society!
Just_a_thought
Who’s Brett Gardner?
MoRivera 1999
spam
AZ_SRB
What should Luke Voit ask for from Cole to give up #45 ???
Just_a_thought
$323MM lol
Kelly Wunsch N' Munch
White Sox should make an offer on Price. There’s many scenarios that could play out. One thought, is take on the entirety of Price’s contract, and ask for Benintendi (who the White Sox wanted all along, but the Carmines picked one spot before, so the White Sox got Fulmer) flip Mazara to the Red Sox, throw in Fulmer, and Hansen as reclamation projects, and perhaps one more prospect not in the top tier? The Red Sox get their much “needed” salary relief, the White Sox get a potentiality good starter, & a player they’ve coveted. Red Sox also get some intriguing pitchers who the White Sox haven’t been able to get the most out of yet. Perhaps Fulmer, and Hansen never pan out? Perhaps the Red Sox tap into their potential? Mazara (albeit no Benintendi) fills an outfield spot, and only makes around 6 million, a fifth of Price’s salary. Plus Mazara is still only 24. He could have some real potential to mash with the short wall, and pesky pole in right field. Sorry to be long-winded.
Kelly Wunsch N' Munch
Potentially good starter. Not potentiality. Darn auto correct!
debubba
They really don’t like “Red”. I thought they would give him a long look this year. “Down goes Frasier!”
Goose
It never made sense to put two teams in Florida. They can’t even support one. Somehow MLB fell in love with the idea due to spring training.
At this point, any market would be better. They should look at bringing a team back to Canada, Ottawa or any large metropolis that doesn’t have more than one professional team in another sport.
halo6219
Angels better stay the F away from Price…IDC how bad they need pitching…he’s old and broken and expensive
deweybelongsinthehall
Just a thought. Should Boston trade Betts and Price together, how much will Castellanos cost for RF? I realize it’s a defensive loss big time in the field but Mookie can’t be replaced with one person and if you work on defense, the offense will suffer. Castellanos at say $15m x 4 would be as good as I think you can get.
MoRivera 1999
In a vacuum, a Castellanos deal is a thing that could work, but overall is still depends on whom you get for Betts and Price.
deweybelongsinthehall
Thanks. My gut tells me the return would be minimal outside of financial relief as we’re talking $60m next year and over $30m the following two years with the return if Mookie doesn’t resign being a compensatory pick as he will get a QO (unless traded after the season starts). I’m looking at signing Castellanos and re-signing Porcello for $25m max combined and then banking $35m to get under the cap and keeping JBJ. Castellanos works in my view only if JBJ still mans CF.
Core4
Wonder if yanks try and trade for Blake Trienen now? Sorry if I butchered his
last name
MoRivera 1999
I hope they go for Betances
Bruin1012
I guarantee the Yankees will not trade for Blake Treinen 100%. They might sign him since the A’s non-tendered him he is now a free agent.
dbec72
The Rays need to be on the east side of Tampa. That way it is an easier drive for people in Tampa or even Orlando. Dont know why they ever built in St. Pete?
MoRivera 1999
That is the problem. And it seems like there’s absolutely no movement between the city and the owner to make a stadium happen. What a train wreck. smh
rsnash
Thoughts on Rays moving to Nashville?
bradthebluefish
Amen
rsnash
Thoughts on Rays moving to Nashville? There are Braves and Cards fans here, but not a lot. Preds fans are rabid and there are lots of Titans fans even though they barely miss playoffs most years.