Free agent mess: Have Baseball's GMs lost their minds?

Question

What is going on with this off-season?
The only good contract inked this off-season, from a GMs perspective, is Jason Schmidt’s 3 year, $47 million… and even that is expensive.
Some of the other contracts are laughable, at best:
Gil Meche, five years, $55 million
Ted Lilly, four years, $40 million
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, because now that the market has been set by the early signings, the price for talent will only shoot up.
Someone shine some light on this…

Answer 1

Several points: 1) the market sets prices, and we may be surprsied to see what the prices are, but if that's what it takes to sign someone, that's the price.

2) one reason the market seems favorable to players this year, is that MLB has money from a new tv contract, has no labor bargaining with the players union, and has in place new rules about profit sharing. There is more money going from the wealthy teams to the less wealthy, and new rules that the less wealthy have to spend a proportion of that money rather than pocket it. So -- to put it simply -- there's more money chasing the free agents, and prices rise.

3) some of the contracts are larger than expected, but some are shorter (like Schmidt's) and so you see bigger per year numbers.

Answer 2

in case you want or want saves, i'd bypass with both Jones or Lidge. they're shown closers on good communities. they are going to win a lot of video games, meaning a lot of keep opportunities. Gregg or Capps may be your next perfect wager. they could be extra perfect in the journey that they were on a extra perfect crew, yet even with the undeniable fact that, they probable does no longer be the closer in the journey that they were on a extra perfect crew. they're both unproven (a million 12 months doesn't say some thing about a closer - this has been shown a tremendous number of cases.), and they don't look to be on good communities. in case you want an further starter, bypass ahead and take Greinke. Ryan is one in each and every of those severe-risk/severe-reward style of gamers. He ought to probable keep 35 video games, yet ever because that he's been with the Jays, he hasn't gotten a probability to, as a results of injuries. Owens and Fuentes are both now myth trash, seeing as they don't look to be closers, anymore. If Gregg or Corpas get damage, even with the truth that, then i'd contain them interior the photo. So bottom line, i'd bypass with both Jones or Lidge, first.

Answer 3

I think C_Bar makes valid, specific points. I'll sum up what he had said by saying that MLB is making good money right now, and can afford to pay these contracts. I don't think they're stupid and I believe they in fact perform ROI analysis's on their contracts, and/or at least on their budgeted figures allocated to player payroll.

I guess I really don't have a problem with the inflation of salaries as a result of TV deals going up; doesn't affect my pocket book too directly so long as the Extra Innings price doesn't go up drastically. I am worried about what to expect in paying for tickets. Although, in their defense, if you could tack on another $10 per seat, and only lose a small percentage of attendance, wouldn't you do it, too?

Added thought: In thinking about it, fans get upset and bitter for seeing these contracts get signed, but how many of you get very upset when you see your teams sign a FA to a big contract? I'm guessing most of you actually get excited about it. It shows that most of the teams are willing to spend a fair amount of their revenues in order to improve their chances of winning. There are franchises that could truly manage it like a business, like the Clippers used to, and do everything they can to maximize attendance and revenues will spending as little as possible. If you're just in it for the money as an owner, you could conceivably not even care where you team finishes, so long as people come out to see them. I think these sentiments upset the fan more, so as baseball fans, I'm not saying we should embrace the spending, but we should at least accept it for what it is.

Answer 4

That's why baseball needs a salary cap. There is no way Meche and Lilly deserve that money. That makes Barry at $16 mil a bargain!

Answer 5

Hey
baseball is gettting to be a more expensive sport
jason schmidt is worth that much money
meche no period...
lily heck no
i have to say some gms except ned colleti are retarded

Answer 6

Look at how much the Giants are paying Barry "Steroids" Bonds. And can you imagine how much Barry Zito is going to get when he signs with someone? It's all gotten out of hand in recent years and just keeps getting worse. Sadly, there's no end in sight.

Answer 7

I think some managers have to sit down and think a bit. 10,11, 12 million is a lot of money in a year. At least try to sign them for a little less........

Answer 8

I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that the luxury tax threshold went way up. I don't know how else to explain it, since no team but the Yankees is willing to go over the luxury tax.

Answer 9

I am so tired of the pay for Baseball players i stopped watching the sport along time ago

Answer 10

that's nothing i read on mlb.com that some minor leauger worth 2 years for $66 million