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What really vexes me, is how so many “fans” are always crying “Ohh nooo don’t sign that superstar player because we can spend the “$$$” better elsewhere.” How poor or rich do you guys think these teams are? I don’t wanna hear the “small market” nonsense either. I don’t think most people understand how far in the black all these teams are. Anyone know what Oakland, TB, and the Spiders annual net revenue is? These teams can afford whomever they desire. No exceptions.
I don’t disagree with the premise but each team has a budget they adhere to. If they blow it all on one guy, they won’t spend the money on someone else no matter how much we want them to. The Yankees could easily a top $300 million per year payroll but I know they won’t.
Yeah you are right Joe. I guess I should have added: No team should have a payroll as low as the teams I mentioned.
I think I missed your point a bit. You’re right that those teams should be running a much higher payroll. Especially with the revenue sharing.
That was basically my point. That they can indeed afford a much higher payroll.
@trumbo, it would be fascinating to take a poll of all the owners/majority owners of all the teams (if they would tell the truth) to see how many of them ACTUALLY care about the game of baseball, versus the business of baseball. They are all biz people first. Guys like John Fisher don’t give rat’s a** about the game, for if he did, he’d have put more $ into the A’s over the last decade and made a better faith effort on the proposed new ballpark. You’re right Trumbo, all the teams have the $ to expand their payrolls……it’s just that they don’t WANT to cuz it comes off their bottom line, and most of them make $ whether they win or lose. Ugh
Giantsphan, you hit the nail on the head with “how many actually care enough about the game of baseball.” My feeling is, like with Arte, that they merely don’t KNOW enough about the game. Therefore, they do not know whom to surround themselves with.
Trumbo – I have to respectfully disagree. A team such as the Tampa Rays with just $252M in 2021 revenue cannot afford to have a $200M payroll. The operating and overhead expenses are more than $52M for sure.
The Marlins last year had just $240M in revenue.
And last year Oakland lost $8.7M despite being a contender right up until the end of the season.
Trumbo – I also have to say it’s great that Mark once again confirmed what some people here don’t realize: Owners always have final say in the large contracts.
Joe Brady, did you read the chat?
“To be fair to Bloom, he isn’t the one approving the high-level contracts. If ownership isn’t willing to meet Bogaerts’ asking price, there’s not much Bloom can do about it.”
TrumboJumbo;
Tongue-in-cheek?
If not we’ll have to arrange to talk and I’ll explain something’s that take too long to type out.
In the past few years the Royals have been sold. The Nationals and Angels are up for sale. There will be more coming. Hard to believe that when owners are just swimming in profits.
(Smart money sells at the high.)
If smart $ sells HIGH Sam The Man, why are the Halos still holding onto Shohei??
P.S. Halos aren’t smart $.
TrumboJumbo;
You started talking about a business, and now brought up an employee in the business.
The Nationals are up for sale. Stephen Strasburg has made $172,948,014 in 14 years with the Nationals and is due another 178,285,686 over the next 7 years…and much of that was deferred money. He’s pitched over 150 innings in a year 5 times, and at this point it’s not sure if he’ll pitch again. I figure his situation was the last straw for the younger Lerner that can make a lot more money with less stress and time in the family business – real estate – than with their baseball franchise.
Insurance on MLB players is extremely expensive, and no insurance company will write a policy to insure a player for 100% of his salary. Consequently most teams don’t take policies out.
Have you had any injuries, MRI’s, doctor visits, surgeries? What do they cost after insurance? Who pays the insurance? Is it more than $500?
Dave Dombrowski noted a few years ago that when he started working in a MLB FO there were less than 40 people there. Now he has hundreds of employees (and they not only get paid – they get medical benefits, computers, expense money to fly and drive around all over the world doing business, etc.).
In short – the expenses, liabilities and aggravation in owning an MLB franchise are extensive. Dealing with attorney’s that deal with attorney’s; dealing with municipalities (governments don’t buy teams parks and maintain them at their expense) is a pain I wouldn’t want to go through. There are easier ways to make money.
I forgot. I thought the sponsors owned Shohei for a sec there.
Mark P is the goat chat guy
Steve is A OK. He is a bit too lax on juicers but other than that a fine writer/analyst.
Steve is freakin’ awesome. In his chats he gives lengthy, detailed responses which I appreciate. And he puts those who say dumb things in their place. The other day somebody in the chat stupidly said the Sox should release Sale this offseason. Steve set him straight with a fantastic response.
Of course Tim is awesome too, but as the owner he doesn’t have the time to do very many chats.
Agreed!
These Turner, Correa, Judge signings in ATL are hilarious. Reminder: their franchise record FA contract became the worst in MLB (BJ Upton: 75.25M). So bad he changed his name.
Who’s contract was worse? His or his brothers?
Justin didn’t change his name. He just was another notch in Arte’s bedpost of bad contracts.
Haha I know. Him and BJ were still kinfolk though.
As a Braves fan since 1994 I have zero confidence in a Trea Turner, Correa, Judge , or deGrom free agent signing in Atlanta. I look for Dansby to resign and a few low budget signings. Probably relief pitching.
Merc, you got in at a good time. What did you think of McGriff?
Crime Dog should’ve been in the HOF long ago. Lofton was robbed of the HOF and Schilling as well by the MLBPA. Hopefully the committees get it right soon.
Ditto Ditto Ditto!!!!!
You started cheering for a Braves team during a season that was never finished due to a strike? Thanks for hanging with us.
Pirates Fan
6:33 Is this the offseason that Cherington will start trading prospects to start competing in 2023?
Mark P
6:33 Seems like next winter is the better bet for that change in direction
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Loved this question and answer.
This is the mindset of MLBTR and so many of its readers / posters.
It’s also the reason that so many teams that rebuild for 3-4 years contend for one or two; and why teams like the Rays, Guardians, and Astros make so many smart trades.
Sam, rebuilding for 3 or 4 years and contending for 1 or 2 doesn’t sound like too viscious of a cycle…Why haven’t the Halos gone through a cycle or 2 like that in the past 13 years?
TrumboJumbo;
Different strokes for different folks.
Some teams rebuild for 3-4 years and contend for 5 years or more. Astros are about to win another championship. This is the 8th year in a row they’ve been contenders, and they should contend again next year.
SENGA will be a Padre ..
GM Meetings Monday 11/7 to 11/10.. start in 24 hours or so..