Discussion Topic Will Concern for TV Revenue Across Baseball Cause Some Players to get Andre Dawson'd

[Brandon]

For those needing a history lesson, Andre Dawson was left out in Free Agency and ended up signing a make good contract of 500,000 back in 1987 with the Cubs.  In his situation the owners were colluding to keep players' salaries down.  He ended up winning the MVP award while playing for the last place Cubs.  But for today the collusion is more a concern over losing 10-30% of the teams' revenues from TV contracts going bankrupt.  Because of this there are many teams holding back in free agency and its not just the Twins.  The Pads are trying to trim 50 million off of payroll.  The World Series Winning Rangers haven't spent on upgrades this winter.  The Giants are going for low-cost measures.   They signed Hicks a reliever to be a starter for 11 million per season for 4 years.  If it wasn't for the Reds and Royals jumping in and going on a surprising spending spree, there may still be many players languishing on the open market right now.  Even Boston hasn't made many moves to this point.  There are around 20 of the top free agents still on the market and many more to choose from.  Will one of the bigger names have to settle on a 1 year deal.  and will the Twins be opportunistic when this happens.  

[Riverbrian]

4 hours ago, Brandon said:

For those needing a history lesson, Andre Dawson was left out in Free Agency and ended up signing a make good contract of 500,000 back in 1987 with the Cubs.  In his situation the owners were colluding to keep players' salaries down.  He ended up winning the MVP award while playing for the last place Cubs.  But for today the collusion is more a concern over losing 10-30% of the teams' revenues from TV contracts going bankrupt.  Because of this there are many teams holding back in free agency and its not just the Twins.  The Pads are trying to trim 50 million off of payroll.  The World Series Winning Rangers haven't spent on upgrades this winter.  The Giants are going for low-cost measures.   They signed Hicks a reliever to be a starter for 11 million per season for 4 years.  If it wasn't for the Reds and Royals jumping in and going on a surprising spending spree, there may still be many players languishing on the open market right now.  Even Boston hasn't made many moves to this point.  There are around 20 of the top free agents still on the market and many more to choose from.  Will one of the bigger names have to settle on a 1 year deal.  and will the Twins be opportunistic when this happens.  

Collusion? 

 

 

[Brandon]

3 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Collusion? 

 

 

MLB paid money that was distributed among the players likely affected by collusion in the 80”s from three different seasons.  Back then collusion is why Dawson had to sign a low contract as he was still unsigned into spring training.  While the owners are not colluding this time, the TV deals going bankrupt has affected over half the leagues spending this offseason.  Will there be an all star talent or a good player that has to sign a below market contract because of the belt tightening in the budgets?

[Riverbrian]

12 minutes ago, Brandon said:

MLB paid money that was distributed among the players likely affected by collusion in the 80”s from three different seasons.  Back then collusion is why Dawson had to sign a low contract as he was still unsigned into spring training.  While the owners are not colluding this time, the TV deals going bankrupt has affected over half the leagues spending this offseason.  Will there be an all star talent or a good player that has to sign a below market contract because of the belt tightening in the budgets?

OK... Just double checking. Your post seemed to suggest collusion this off-season. 

[Cris E]

There will not be overt collusion like there was in the past because it cost them a lot of money and left good talent off the field.  Modern Totally Not Collusion might get a few guys some lower contracts but all will get an offer and all* will play. Or maybe after last season most will still see a raise because who is kidding who, there's tons of money out there.

 

* All not meaning everyone of course because some people are sleaze and could damage club reputations so Bauer and many other domestic violence types are out but the DWI guys are OK and don't press me on this because it's complicated and/or maybe not thought out too well. Can I go now?

[chpettit19]

I think the TV deals have probably played a role in how slow this offseason has been, but I don't think this is too far outside the norm. MLB has been having pretty slow offseasons for a while now. And guys are still getting paid. Sure, the Dodgers are the ones paying most the guys, but they had to pay them as much as they did because other teams were willing to pay, too. Nola got 172 mil from Philly, Gray got 75 from St Louis, Rodriguez 80 from Arizona, Yankees and Cubs have brought in FA starters, Boston paid Giolito nearly 40 despite him being terrible half the year, the Giants gave Lee 113 mil which I don't think is a "low-cost measure," the Mariners brought in Garver, Baltimore paid Kimbrel 13 mil.

It's been a pretty slow offseason, but it's also a pretty disappointing FA class compared to what we've had the last couple years with all the superstar SSs and Judge, etc. being available. Outside Ohtani and Yamamoto there wasn't nearly the star power we've had recently. I mean even Bellinger (arguably the 3rd biggest name on the market) is coming off 1 good bounce back year after having had to sign a pillow deal because he was terrible for multiple years. Snell wants the moon, but he's been hurt and not great most of his career, and Montgomery isn't a flashy stat guy that typically drives big money and notoriety during the offseason.

I think the names available on the market are every bit as big a reason for the slow offseason as the TV deals. The stars got paid. There's just fewer stars this year.

[Brandon]

I’m sorry if the collusion reference threw people off.  I was trying to point out the insanely team friendly contract Dawson signed to get back in the field.  As it relates to this offseason,  do you think there will be any incredible value signs available due to teams reigning in spending this offseason?  
 

And I do believe teams are lowering spending as a result of the TV situation.