I could be wrong about the floor. But overall, yes, they wanted to spend less. That's always their goal. You don't to be a billionaire by being generous with your inheritance.
I don't understand being mad at teams paying players and trying to win, rather than the teams not spending money and not trying to win. Mind. Boggling.
Strong disagree. Baseball was never more popular than when the Yankees did this. It's good for baseball to have a big market team casual fans hate irrationally. At least the dodgers are spending money, unlike like seven teams that aren't trying and are just pocketing millions.
If Soto is successful, it will be a rarity. HS pitchers are the worst gamble in the MLB draft. That's why he went as late as he did (it was a good gamble that late in the draft, imo).