In addition to points made by others, this is just not a point of view that succeeds in any form of business. You're talking about the concept of a sunk cost. All the costs you mention are involved in having a chance to develop a good major league pitcher. When it doesn't work out, it's just a cost of doing business. I'm actually more bullish on Slegers than most here, but if the team determined he was that far down the totem pole among starters, then you cut bait with him regardless of what's been invested. That investment is gone, and what matters is the present status of the investment. You don't decide whether to sell Sears stock because of what you paid for it. You decide based on what it's worth now versus your forecast going forward. (Well, uh, too late, for that analogy.)