Russillo and Passan on Baseball Spending

[Talkin' Baseball]

What needs to happen and What eventually will happen is normalization of rookie, contract values, and a much quicker path of free agency like the other leagues have. There should be a much smaller gap between what young players make and the market price for their contribution. This concept of control is going to go away as we know it

This.

[Melville]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Factually, the Dodgers are benefitted by corporate welfare more than any professional sports team in America.

[3dender]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

It has damaged the fans…

I urge you to review the average ticket prices for those leagues compared to mlb

Perhaps you want to pay 200 for an mlb average ticket…

The real problem is the arbitration process…

So team A is poorly run…a very weak organization…but because they have a floor to meet, they give a weak player …a shortstop 25 million…

Jeremy Peña goes to arbitration…..the first thing his agent says is….”hey, that bum in A is getting 25 million….of course my guy is worth 40”

Ticket price inflation has nothing to do with higher player salaries, it's just price gouging.

You should google “supply and demand”. The concept might just blow your mind.

Have you ever taken an economics class?

Do you know how many of the 4 premises of classical economics are actually reflected in reality?

Do you know what monopoly economics does to normal supply and demand curves?

Do you think maybe you're the one who needs to Google a little?

I know all about it and understand it very well. The Cardinals don't have any kind of monopoly of individual's entertainment dollars and certainly don't "price gauge", which is laughable. They compete with the Blues, the Symphony, concerts, and all kind of other entertainment options so they have to price their product to compete in the marketplace.

The prices they set are what they think they can get for their product. If they are correct, they sell a lot of tickets and maybe increase prices more as demand exceeds supply. If they are incorrect, they have to lower prices, discount, offer incentives, or otherwise lower the net price for admittance to get an acceptable (to them) level of attendance.

If they still can't get the attendance they want (or need), they have to reduce costs to maintain profitability.

To say they are "price gauging" is lazy and ignorant at best.

You simply have so little understanding of what you're talking about that I'm almost embarrassed for you. Every single sentiment in your first paragraph is wildly wrong.

And why do you keep misspelling "gouge"?

[Red7]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

You mean like the Yankees did in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 90’s? It’s a wonder baseball ever survived.

The world is a very different place in 2026. Many more options for the entertainment dollar. It's cool that you want to kill off small market teams. You are entitled to your opinion. Changes will be made though. Deal with it.

A work stoppage will kill off the small market teams sooner than the current situation. If you’re worried about the small market teams, why aren’t you proposing a REVENUE cap. Instead of a luxury tax, let’s have a surcharge on the larger market teams. A 100% tax on all gross revenues over $350 million with the pot going to all the teams under $350. Play with those numbers however you like.

[alw80]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

People said the same thing about the Yankees 25 years ago.

[RamFan08NY]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

Baseball players being paid more than they are worth? How could THAT ever happen...........Hello Kyle Tucker.

[makesnosense]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Factually, the Dodgers are benefitted by corporate welfare more than any professional sports team in America.

Please don't leave us hanging without explaining this fact( actually farce statement)

[cardinalsfever44]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

People said the same thing about the Yankees 25 years ago.

25 years ago the Yankees payroll was $112 million. The lowest payroll in the league was the Twins at $24 million. Difference of $88 million.

Currently the Dodgers have a payroll of $390 million. The lowest payroll in the league is the Marlins at $78 million. Difference of $312 million.

There is a bit of a difference between now and 25 years ago.

[3-2 Fastball]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Factually, the Dodgers are benefitted by corporate welfare more than any professional sports team in America.

Please don't leave us hanging without explaining this fact( actually farce statement)

I suspect it is related to Guggenheim Partners being the financial engine behind the Dodgers. Guggenheim pulls its sizale worth from investment and trading. Guggenheim business is good, in part, due to various forms of corporate welfare adding value to large corporations.
To illustrate further, multibillion dollar corporations pay low level employees minimum wage and the federal government (read: tax payers) supplements a non-livable wage with housing vouchers, utilities support, etc. A very, very downstream effect of this is that the Dodgers can afford to pay Kyle Tucker $60mil/yr.

What a world

[alw80]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

People said the same thing about the Yankees 25 years ago.

25 years ago the Yankees payroll was $112 million. The lowest payroll in the league was the Twins at $24 million. Difference of $88 million.

Currently the Dodgers have a payroll of $390 million. The lowest payroll in the league is the Marlins at $78 million. Difference of $312 million.

There is a bit of a difference between now and 25 years ago.

The Dodgers arent the problem, teams like the Marlins are the problem.

[cardinalsfever44]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

People said the same thing about the Yankees 25 years ago.

25 years ago the Yankees payroll was $112 million. The lowest payroll in the league was the Twins at $24 million. Difference of $88 million.

Currently the Dodgers have a payroll of $390 million. The lowest payroll in the league is the Marlins at $78 million. Difference of $312 million.

There is a bit of a difference between now and 25 years ago.

The Dodgers arent the problem, teams like the Marlins are the problem.

Disagree. What would you like the Marlins to do? What big free agents are they grabbing to become even with a team like the Dodgers that is in the 2nd biggest market in the country and offers great weather year round. You're in the camp that small market teams should just spend to spend? So if the Cards just grabbed up Starling Marte and paid him $20 million a year just to raise their total payroll, you'd be happy with that?

Only a certain # of players in the league deserve big time $$$ and the big market teams have the market almost completely cornered on them, forcing small market teams to operate at a completely different level in order to just compete.

[alw80]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

People said the same thing about the Yankees 25 years ago.

25 years ago the Yankees payroll was $112 million. The lowest payroll in the league was the Twins at $24 million. Difference of $88 million.

Currently the Dodgers have a payroll of $390 million. The lowest payroll in the league is the Marlins at $78 million. Difference of $312 million.

There is a bit of a difference between now and 25 years ago.

The Dodgers arent the problem, teams like the Marlins are the problem.

Disagree. What would you like the Marlins to do? What big free agents are they grabbing to become even with a team like the Dodgers that is in the 2nd biggest market in the country and offers great weather year round. You're in the camp that small market teams should just spend to spend? So if the Cards just grabbed up Starling Marte and paid him $20 million a year just to raise their total payroll, you'd be happy with that?

Only a certain # of players in the league deserve big time $$$ and the big market teams have the market almost completely cornered on them, forcing small market teams to operate at a completely different level in order to just compete.

Spend some money. Don't buy a pro sports team if you don't want to compete.

[cardinalsfever44]

NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary floors. Has a floor negatively affected those leagues?

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

People said the same thing about the Yankees 25 years ago.

25 years ago the Yankees payroll was $112 million. The lowest payroll in the league was the Twins at $24 million. Difference of $88 million.

Currently the Dodgers have a payroll of $390 million. The lowest payroll in the league is the Marlins at $78 million. Difference of $312 million.

There is a bit of a difference between now and 25 years ago.

The Dodgers arent the problem, teams like the Marlins are the problem.

Disagree. What would you like the Marlins to do? What big free agents are they grabbing to become even with a team like the Dodgers that is in the 2nd biggest market in the country and offers great weather year round. You're in the camp that small market teams should just spend to spend? So if the Cards just grabbed up Starling Marte and paid him $20 million a year just to raise their total payroll, you'd be happy with that?

Only a certain # of players in the league deserve big time $$$ and the big market teams have the market almost completely cornered on them, forcing small market teams to operate at a completely different level in order to just compete.

Spend some money. Don't buy a pro sports team if you don't want to compete.

Which big free agents are going to a small market team over the Dodgers? The Dodgers will outbid any team they want for any player they want.

So small market teams should overpay lesser players, still not be close to the same level as the Dodgers, just to say they spent more money?

[alw80]

They also have caps

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

People said the same thing about the Yankees 25 years ago.

25 years ago the Yankees payroll was $112 million. The lowest payroll in the league was the Twins at $24 million. Difference of $88 million.

Currently the Dodgers have a payroll of $390 million. The lowest payroll in the league is the Marlins at $78 million. Difference of $312 million.

There is a bit of a difference between now and 25 years ago.

The Dodgers arent the problem, teams like the Marlins are the problem.

Disagree. What would you like the Marlins to do? What big free agents are they grabbing to become even with a team like the Dodgers that is in the 2nd biggest market in the country and offers great weather year round. You're in the camp that small market teams should just spend to spend? So if the Cards just grabbed up Starling Marte and paid him $20 million a year just to raise their total payroll, you'd be happy with that?

Only a certain # of players in the league deserve big time $$$ and the big market teams have the market almost completely cornered on them, forcing small market teams to operate at a completely different level in order to just compete.

Spend some money. Don't buy a pro sports team if you don't want to compete.

Which big free agents are going to a small market team over the Dodgers? The Dodgers will outbid any team they want for any player they want.

So small market teams should overpay lesser players, still not be close to the same level as the Dodgers, just to say they spent more money?

They will go to who pays them. How would a salary cap change anything then? Why would a star go to a small market who only pays up to the floor?

[cardinalsfever44]

Yep. A floor with no cap makes zero sense and won't help the current issue of the super team.

Super teams are good for sports.

Not when over half the league has zero chance to win.

Sure, the Chiefs are good for the NFL, but:
#1 - they are a small market team, so their situation could never happen under the current MLB model
#2 - all other NFL team fans know they at least have a chance if they build a team smartly (and under the same rules as every other NFL team) to have that dynasty. All fans of small market teams in MLB know is that their stars will bolt for LA or NY as soon as they can become free agents. This does not happen in the NFL.

TV ratings for the playoffs were up 28% last year. Its not the Dodgers fault billionaires won't spend money on their teams. I don't believe in corporate welfare and a salary cap is corporate welfare.

Not good for the long term health of the sport. If nothing changes in the next 5 years and the Dodgers just keep winning title after title, will viewership still increase? Will fans in over half the markets even care about their teams any more?

People said the same thing about the Yankees 25 years ago.

25 years ago the Yankees payroll was $112 million. The lowest payroll in the league was the Twins at $24 million. Difference of $88 million.

Currently the Dodgers have a payroll of $390 million. The lowest payroll in the league is the Marlins at $78 million. Difference of $312 million.

There is a bit of a difference between now and 25 years ago.

The Dodgers arent the problem, teams like the Marlins are the problem.

Disagree. What would you like the Marlins to do? What big free agents are they grabbing to become even with a team like the Dodgers that is in the 2nd biggest market in the country and offers great weather year round. You're in the camp that small market teams should just spend to spend? So if the Cards just grabbed up Starling Marte and paid him $20 million a year just to raise their total payroll, you'd be happy with that?

Only a certain # of players in the league deserve big time $$$ and the big market teams have the market almost completely cornered on them, forcing small market teams to operate at a completely different level in order to just compete.

Spend some money. Don't buy a pro sports team if you don't want to compete.

Which big free agents are going to a small market team over the Dodgers? The Dodgers will outbid any team they want for any player they want.

So small market teams should overpay lesser players, still not be close to the same level as the Dodgers, just to say they spent more money?

They will go to who pays them. How would a salary cap change anything then? Why would a star go to a small market who only pays up to the floor?

Again, the Dodgers will outbid any team for a player they want.

With a cap, the Dodgers will only be able to spend a certain amount of $. This will force players down the chain to other teams, spreading out the talent and making it more of a how well do you run your franchise sport as opposed to how much money do you have to spend to buy championships sport.

[Talkin' Baseball]

It would be inflationary….

bad players being paid more than they worth ..

It doesn't have to be that way. They could have a system where they are forced to pay young players sooner (who are actually producing). Instead of being forced to sign a Dexter Fowler, they can pay a Masyn Winn. All teams under the floor have these types of players.