Baseball Remains Broken, Again

[SteveLV]

10 years, $700M Ohtani to the Dodgers.

$70M per year for a single player, who is coming off TJ surgery.

Amazingly wonderful player, but this is insanity.  Not that he earns this money--good for him!--but that MLB's system is so inequitable that one team can pay one player more than another couple team's entire payroll for 26 players.

They might as well form two levels;  Rich MLB and the Rest.  For the A's, Pirates, etc., to compete vs. the Dodgers and Yankees of the world is not even the same level of competition. (And I know the Yankees stumbled last year.)

MLB needs to get a hard cap or they are going to alienate all their fans in small markets---forever.

[Blyleven2011]

The price of doing business  just went up ...

As usual the dodgers are saying they have more money then the other teams bidding for ohtani , and even the rest of the league ...

Pagans 2 year  million per season  plus incentives  looks like a steal now ... 

The players just found out that there is money in baseball and now don't need to see the teams profit and loss statements  ...

Prices just escalated  for the remaining free agents , Yamamoto  will now be looking for 300 plus million to sign , Soto will now take 500 plus million to extend his Yankees contract   ...

70 million dollar average annual salary is insane  ...

Is this good for the league  , some small market  owners will now be selling their teams once they stop rolling there eyes  ...

Who's to blame  , Manfred was hired as commissioner to run baseball operations   , but really he was hired by the owners to work for them ...

A contract like the elite players are getting today is only hurting the fans more in there pocket book ...

Ticket prices , parking , beer , hotdogs and concessions  , fan apparel  , it's all going up , 

What family is going to afford to take their family to see a game , not an average family ...

Baseball used to be a family get together , it is not any longer ...

I may be able to go to games but the rest of my family  will pass , I'm sure of it  ...

[Seth Stohs]

Seems like the finances of baseball are pretty good... Cuz the Dodgers wouldn't pay him that kind of money (and Betts, and Freeman and others) if they weren't going to make it. 

Ohtani's been on a team with a $400 million player (Trout) and a $300 million player (Rendon), and they kept adding players each year and never got to the playoffs. 

Love watching teams spend crazily for two reasons, 1.) cuz the players deserve it, and 2.) it guarantees the team nothing. 

[Seth Stohs]

3 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

The price of doing business  just went up ...

As usual the dodgers are saying they have more money then the other teams bidding for ohtani , and even the rest of the league ...

Pagans 2 year  million per season  plus incentives  looks like a steal now ... 

The players just found out that there is money in baseball and now don't need to see the teams profit and loss statements  ...

Prices just escalated  for the remaining free agents , Yamamoto  will now be looking for 300 plus million to sign , Soto will now take 500 plus million to extend his Yankees contract   ...

70 million dollar average annual salary is insane  ...

Is this good for the league  , some small market  owners will now be selling their teams once they stop rolling there eyes  ...

Who's to blame  , Manfred was hired as commissioner to run baseball operations   , but really he was hired by the owners to work for them ...

A contract like the elite players are getting today is only hurting the fans more in there pocket book ...

Ticket prices , parking , beer , hotdogs and concessions  , fan apparel  , it's all going up , 

What family is going to afford to take their family to see a game , not an average family ...

Baseball used to be a family get together , it is not any longer ...

I may be able to go to games but the rest of my family  will pass , I'm sure of it  ...

I don't think the price of doing business changed all that much. I mean, I wasn't expecting $700 million either, but Ohtani's always been the exception. 

Yomamoto was always going to get around $250 million. He's got the Yankees and Mets fighting over him. 

Soto was always going to get Trout-like money to $500 million. 

Other contracts have been in line with where they have been, for the most part. Pagan, after his 2023 season, got what other relievers of that ilk get. Gray got what we expected. So did Lynn, Gibson, and others. 

Oh, and I say all that cuz I don't go to any/many games. I don't plan on it either. As long as I can find most of their games on TV, it won't bother me... But I understand that is a frustration for those that do go to a lot of games. 

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Has there been research on how the price of tickets and concessions correlates with team payrolls? I want to say I’ve read that the correlation is limited, but I don’t remember well enough to cite that confidently. 

[MABB1959]

Going to a game hasn’t been affordable for a while now.  For 3 people it was a bit over $300 For tickets. Food was close to or over $100. Add on parking and close to $500.   Neither Correa and Buxton didn’t play and a severe storm rolled in and the game ended up getting canceled in the 4th inning ,

[DJL44]

11 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

Going to a game hasn’t been affordable for a while now.  For 3 people it was a bit over $300 For tickets. Food was close to or over $100. Add on parking and close to $500.   Neither Correa and Buxton didn’t play and a severe storm rolled in and the game ended up getting canceled in the 4th inning ,

I can find parking near Target Field for $10, not sure why you're paying $100. I also have no problem finding tickets for less than $100. If you really want to go on the cheap you're also allowed to bring your own food into Target Field.

Going to a major league game isn't cheap but it doesn't have to be $500 for 3 people.

[DJL44]

There are more playoff spots available than large market teams. The Dodgers can buy one spot but they can't buy a championship. It's probably a good thing for MLB to have Ohtani marketed to the largest possible audience.

[tony&rodney]

Baseball more closely reflects what is the experience of the United States than football, basketball, and particularly hockey. There is a massive amount of money in all of these corporations but the largely shared revenues and regulated limitations of football, basketball, and hockey are not in play in baseball nor in the corporate U. S. to the same degree. Individuals are left to make of it as they wish but it is what it is. 

The ownership of baseball franchises has been carefully controlled but one wonders if the allure may fade somewhat for a very few certain ownership groups as they realize that their assets, the players,  are worth more than they are. Same as it ever was, money will drive the business and the direction of the corporation we call MLB. I think we are all aware of that as we follow the conundrum of how the Twins will attempt to build a better team in 2024. I find it is best to just enjoy the games as individual contests of competition.

[Parfigliano]

Isnt $70 mil/yr what BALT and TB payroll was last year?  I know that you cant just buy a WS ring (hi NYM) but at some point MLB has to address the crazy competitive imbalance under the current financial system.

[mnfireman]

2 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I don't think the price of doing business changed all that much. I mean, I wasn't expecting $700 million either, but Ohtani's always been the exception. 

Yomamoto was always going to get around $250 million. He's got the Yankees and Mets fighting over him. 

Soto was always going to get Trout-like money to $500 million. 

 

This is pretty much word for word what the talking-head, ex-GM's on MLB Network were saying while I was navigating the horrible roads headed north tonight. 

[old nurse]

9 hours ago, MABB1959 said:

Going to a game hasn’t been affordable for a while now.  For 3 people it was a bit over $300 For tickets. Food was close to or over $100. Add on parking and close to $500.   Neither Correa and Buxton didn’t play and a severe storm rolled in and the game ended up getting canceled in the 4th inning ,

Ticket price complaint. 100 a seat means you were sitting in the best seats. 17 bucks will get you into a game. 33 or so each on food Food like what used to be at the Metrodome or Met Stadium should have cost $6.each. Parking somewhere around $100  Hmmm I am starting to suspect Pinocchio is at play here 

[Dave Borton]

"The Angels netted some $10 million to $20 million a year in revenue from Ohtani-related in-stadium and on-air advertising. With the Dodgers, one industry expert suggested Ohtani could be worth two or three times as much."

https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2023-12-09/shohei-ohtani-dodgers-agreement-angels

The article also talked about Ohtani's idea to make the contract contain unprecedented deferred comp (many years beyond the 10 yr contract) to avoid busting the luxury tax for the Dodgers and likewise, tax advantages for Ohtani.

Ohtani can now buy that cabin up nort' of Tokyo and fish for some walleye with cormorants

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2426.html#:~:text=Ukai is a traditional fishing,official patronage from the emperor.

 

[nclahammer]

11 hours ago, MABB1959 said:

Going to a game hasn’t been affordable for a while now.  For 3 people it was a bit over $300 For tickets. Food was close to or over $100. Add on parking and close to $500.   Neither Correa and Buxton didn’t play and a severe storm rolled in and the game ended up getting canceled in the 4th inning ,

We splurged as a family with some friends with pretty good seats along first base/rightfield, ate at Truely on Deck, and with parking was less than $250 for the six of us.  When I go with just one other person and sit in the cheap seats (and usually move up to better seats), bring some sunflower seed or peanuts & bottles of water,  it's under $50.

[lake_guy]

11 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Seems like the finances of baseball are pretty good... Cuz the Dodgers wouldn't pay him that kind of money (and Betts, and Freeman and others) if they weren't going to make it. 

Ohtani's been on a team with a $400 million player (Trout) and a $300 million player (Rendon), and they kept adding players each year and never got to the playoffs. 

Love watching teams spend crazily for two reasons, 1.) cuz the players deserve it, and 2.) it guarantees the team nothing. 

I agree the players deserve it and it guarantees the team nothing.  The core problem is that not all teams in the league have a shot at landing the big talent, or if they did and it went badly, the team can be at a disadvantage for years.  I don't fall on the side of owners either but the inequity of revenues and spending is continuing to degrade the sport.  This feels like the big market teams are just kind of playing along with the rest of the league to not make it so one sided but then show on occasions like this what financial power they can really bring to the table. 

[TopGunn#22]

Did anybody NOT expect Ohtani to sign with the Dodgers?  He hasn't been to a post season in his entire MLB career, now he'll be in the playoffs EVERY year.  I'll admit, I was surprised at $700 million, I thought it would be $600 million.

And I'm convinced the Dodgers know Ohtani may only pitch for 4 years or so of that contract.  He is an elite hitter.  There was really no other destination for him.  Toronto, New York, San Francisco...not. a. chance.  The entire industry wants to see Ohtani in the playoffs.

I'm going to start a rumor that the Twins were actually in the bidding as one of those under the radar teams, but pulled out when the contract reached $650 million, $65 million annually.  Even the Pohlad's knew they couldn't handle that.  

By the way, don't for one minute think the Dodgers are done.  Yamamoto, Snell, Corbin Burnes...they still need SP.  The Dodgers have become the poster child for a team that knows how to spend wisely to insure a playoff spot (they're the Anti-Mets) but still can't win a World Series unless the season is cut in half because they continue to employ a manager who if nothing else is elite at getting the LEAST out of the MOST.  

Yet despite this "HAVES" and "HAVE NOT'S" in baseball, the Dodgers haven't won a full season World Series since 1988.  The Yankees haven't won one since the early 2000's.  Last year saw Arizona and Texas battle it out with Texas winning their first World Series ever.  Despite a money disparity that is truly appalling, baseball still finds a way to buck the odds.  When you consider how boringly familiar it is to see the same teams year after year compete for College Football's National Championship, you realize that baseball is a lot more like the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.  I don't know how that is.  But I can at least cling to that hope as a Twins fan.  

[Doctor Gast]

13 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Yomamoto was always going to get around $250 million. He's got the Yankees and Mets fighting over him. 

I believe Yamamoto will get at least $300MM, crazy!

[MABB1959]

4 hours ago, old nurse said:

Ticket price complaint. 100 a seat means you were sitting in the best seats. 17 bucks will get you into a game. 33 or so each on food Food like what used to be at the Metrodome or Met Stadium should have cost $6.each. Parking somewhere around $100  Hmmm I am starting to suspect Pinocchio is at play here 

Food was about $100, not parking.  I wanted good seats

[Blyleven2011]

25 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

Food was about $100, not parking.  I wanted good seats

A good stiff drink from the hrbek bar was 18 dollars plus a 5 buck tip , I laughed everytime I was walking out and everytime I kept coming back ...

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I think the Dodgers will be sorry when he is in his late 30's and not producing much especially pitching.  Isn't this his second TJ?  If correct, I know it is possible to come back (Paddack), but one never knows for sure.

I dont think he's pitching this year.

[Mike Sixel]

Other than the CC signing, no big free agent goes to mid market teams. So all this does is raise the price the big market teams pay.... Nothing changes here, other than players getting more money. There is no evidence payroll affects costs to ticket buyers. 

[old nurse]

23 hours ago, MABB1959 said:

Food was about $100, not parking.  I wanted good seats

You wanted the steak at Mannys but wanted to pay Best Steak House on Hennepin  (long gone) prices 

[Vanimal46]

There are many loopholes in this current CBA, but this loophole takes the cake. Big markets can defer whatever money they want and if paying Ohtani ever becomes a problem, the owner will sell the team and put the burden on someone else. 

[tony&rodney]

56 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

the owner will sell the team and put the burden on someone else. 

Well, we don't have to worry about the Dodgers having enough money. Still. there are other teams that could abuse this and falter which 100% puts MLB on the hook for the payments. It is MLB that guarantees all contracts, I believe. The irony of a team like the Twins getting a bill to help pay off a large contract signed by San Diego or some other team. Kinda funny actually.

[TNtwins85]

Well, this contract just sets the president. You hear Bryce Harper clamoring for more money as well. Who’s to say that next year Juan Soto doesn’t demand a billion dollars deferred for 50 years? Or the next young great player demanding more than that over 100 years that gets passed to his heirs? Without looking into the specifics of the rules and just reading that rule in the Passan tweet it’s hard to know. That rule literally just says that a player can demand anything. For real though. It sounds silly and ridiculous but if that is the only rule which it says their is no limit what’s to say that when it’s time for Walker Jenkins to hit free agency that he doesn’t demand 500 billion over 10 years that’s deferred for 500 years? Obviously there will be another CBA by then but this sets the table and the table is infinite! Randballs Stu… your next article starts here!

[sweetmusicviola16]

 I have zero issue with Ohtani getting 700 million. More power to him. My problem however is the Dodgers are payingf Ohtani 700 million, but 680 million will be deferred until after the contract is over. They are getting by with a 46 million dollar hit on his salary. They should be taxed 70mil per year not 46. This is gaming the system by a team and MLB needs to fix it or the game will go down the old cr%%per.

[IndianaTwin]

On 12/10/2023 at 8:32 AM, nclahammer said:

We splurged as a family with some friends with pretty good seats along first base/rightfield, ate at Truely on Deck, and with parking was less than $250 for the six of us.  When I go with just one other person and sit in the cheap seats (and usually move up to better seats), bring some sunflower seed or peanuts & bottles of water,  it's under $50.

Including parking for free at the Mall of America and taking the light rail for $4.50 round trip. 

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

 I have zero issue with Ohtani getting 700 million. More power to him. My problem however is the Dodgers are payingf Ohtani 700 million, but 680 million will be deferred until after the contract is over. They are getting by with a 46 million dollar hit on his salary. They should be taxed 70mil per year not 46. This is gaming the system by a team and MLB needs to fix it or the game will go down the old cr%%per.

MLB is about 10 years behind the NHL on this. The MN Wild signed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to 13 year contracts with manipulated cap hits to build a good team. Ilya Kovalchuk signed a similar 17 year deal IIRC with the New Jersey Devils around that same time. The Kovalchuk contract was voided due to blatant manipulation tactics. The Wild have been getting punished by NHL for the last 3-4 years because of that. 

The Dodgers should get punished for this and this specific loophole needs to be closed ASAP before things get out of hand in baseball. 

[Mike Sixel]

15 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

 I have zero issue with Ohtani getting 700 million. More power to him. My problem however is the Dodgers are payingf Ohtani 700 million, but 680 million will be deferred until after the contract is over. They are getting by with a 46 million dollar hit on his salary. They should be taxed 70mil per year not 46. This is gaming the system by a team and MLB needs to fix it or the game will go down the old cr%%per.

I mean, this happens in every sport, just not to this level. 

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, IndianaTwin said:

Including parking for free at the Mall of America and taking the light rail for $4.50 round trip. 

As an out of towner thats what I always do.