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rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 08:41 am CBA

It's now clear to me this "runway-rebuild" ruse was cooked up after the 2023 season by Dewitt knowing the CBA expiration after 2026 was going to (possibly) lead to a lockout.

Dewitt then put in place a MASSIVE payroll reduction plan, one that's seen his payroll fall from $178,449,072 in 2023 to possibly
under $90M in 2026 if he can shed the bulk of both S. Gray & NADO's salaries.

It appears to me that Dewitt wanted to go into the (potential) lockout w/as little payroll on the books as possible.

The "runway/re-build" gave him the ruse he needed to pull it off.

Thus why he didn't spend this season and won't again in 2026.

Perhaps after seeing his attendance fall under 2M in 2026 (unless C. Bloom pulls off a miracle roster rebuild that leads to a contending team) and his franchise value falls from $2.6B to (say) $2.3B, then and only then will he spend again.

JMO

Only those posters who have owned a business and had to make payroll every 2 weeks understand what’s going on.

Cranny wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:21 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 08:41 am CBA

It's now clear to me this "runway-rebuild" ruse was cooked up after the 2023 season by Dewitt knowing the CBA expiration after 2026 was going to (possibly) lead to a lockout.

Dewitt then put in place a MASSIVE payroll reduction plan, one that's seen his payroll fall from $178,449,072 in 2023 to possibly
under $90M in 2026 if he can shed the bulk of both S. Gray & NADO's salaries.

It appears to me that Dewitt wanted to go into the (potential) lockout w/as little payroll on the books as possible.

The "runway/re-build" gave him the ruse he needed to pull it off.

Thus why he didn't spend this season and won't again in 2026.

Perhaps after seeing his attendance fall under 2M in 2026 (unless C. Bloom pulls off a miracle roster rebuild that leads to a contending team) and his franchise value falls from $2.6B to (say) $2.3B, then and only then will he spend again.

JMO

Only those posters who have owned a business and had to make payroll every 2 weeks understand what’s going on.

Can you explain how running out a AAA team and lackey manager which reduced Busch and BPV revenue by 50% help??

Goldfan wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:35 am

Cranny wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:21 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 08:41 am CBA

It's now clear to me this "runway-rebuild" ruse was cooked up after the 2023 season by Dewitt knowing the CBA expiration after 2026 was going to (possibly) lead to a lockout.

Dewitt then put in place a MASSIVE payroll reduction plan, one that's seen his payroll fall from $178,449,072 in 2023 to possibly
under $90M in 2026 if he can shed the bulk of both S. Gray & NADO's salaries.

It appears to me that Dewitt wanted to go into the (potential) lockout w/as little payroll on the books as possible.

The "runway/re-build" gave him the ruse he needed to pull it off.

Thus why he didn't spend this season and won't again in 2026.

Perhaps after seeing his attendance fall under 2M in 2026 (unless C. Bloom pulls off a miracle roster rebuild that leads to a contending team) and his franchise value falls from $2.6B to (say) $2.3B, then and only then will he spend again.

JMO

Only those posters who have owned a business and had to make payroll every 2 weeks understand what’s going on.

Can you explain how running out a AAA team and lackey manager which reduced Busch and BPV revenue by 50% help??

Lowering of cable revenue too. It’s enough to make a company cut back on expenses.

Cranny wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:21 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 08:41 am CBA

It's now clear to me this "runway-rebuild" ruse was cooked up after the 2023 season by Dewitt knowing the CBA expiration after 2026 was going to (possibly) lead to a lockout.

Dewitt then put in place a MASSIVE payroll reduction plan, one that's seen his payroll fall from $178,449,072 in 2023 to possibly
under $90M in 2026 if he can shed the bulk of both S. Gray & NADO's salaries.

It appears to me that Dewitt wanted to go into the (potential) lockout w/as little payroll on the books as possible.

The "runway/re-build" gave him the ruse he needed to pull it off.

Thus why he didn't spend this season and won't again in 2026.

Perhaps after seeing his attendance fall under 2M in 2026 (unless C. Bloom pulls off a miracle roster rebuild that leads to a contending team) and his franchise value falls from $2.6B to (say) $2.3B, then and only then will he spend again.

JMO

Only those posters who have owned a business and had to make payroll every 2 weeks understand what’s going on.

Yep. Only if you’ve done it can you offer a credible opinion on it. Cranny, you are so full of it. Just ferme le pie hole.

Rojo Johnson wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 10:02 am

Cranny wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:21 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 08:41 am CBA

It's now clear to me this "runway-rebuild" ruse was cooked up after the 2023 season by Dewitt knowing the CBA expiration after 2026 was going to (possibly) lead to a lockout.

Dewitt then put in place a MASSIVE payroll reduction plan, one that's seen his payroll fall from $178,449,072 in 2023 to possibly
under $90M in 2026 if he can shed the bulk of both S. Gray & NADO's salaries.

It appears to me that Dewitt wanted to go into the (potential) lockout w/as little payroll on the books as possible.

The "runway/re-build" gave him the ruse he needed to pull it off.

Thus why he didn't spend this season and won't again in 2026.

Perhaps after seeing his attendance fall under 2M in 2026 (unless C. Bloom pulls off a miracle roster rebuild that leads to a contending team) and his franchise value falls from $2.6B to (say) $2.3B, then and only then will he spend again.

JMO

Only those posters who have owned a business and had to make payroll every 2 weeks understand what’s going on.

Yep. Only if you’ve done it can you offer a credible opinion on it. Cranny, you are so full of it. Just ferme le pie hole.

Terrific post. Rojo. We all have our opinions, right? But when a poster attacks another poster personally instead of just attacking a post it slides into a sewer. Right?

Goldfan wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:13 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 08:41 am CBA

It's now clear to me this "runway-rebuild" ruse was cooked up after the 2023 season by Dewitt knowing the CBA expiration after 2026 was going to (possibly) lead to a lockout.

Dewitt then put in place a MASSIVE payroll reduction plan, one that's seen his payroll fall from $178,449,072 in 2023 to possibly
under $90M in 2026 if he can shed the bulk of both S. Gray & NADO's salaries.

It appears to me that Dewitt wanted to go into the (potential) lockout w/as little payroll on the books as possible.

The "runway/re-build" gave him the ruse he needed to pull it off.

Thus why he didn't spend this season and won't again in 2026.

Perhaps after seeing his attendance fall under 2M in 2026 (unless C. Bloom pulls off a miracle roster rebuild that leads to a contending team) and his franchise value falls from $2.6B to (say) $2.3B, then and only then will he spend again.

JMO

I’m with you Rock, but if there’s a lockout no one gets paid. Perhaps his hope or he knows(because he’s in the inner circles) a huge change will occur in the MLB salary structure and he figured he’d throw in the towel early and save as much as he could leading up to this. This is the only logical answer for the apathy, lethargy, stupidity we’ve witnessed the last few seasons.

Absolutely

Which is why I've been after cranny in every thread he enters claiming you can't sign a FA w/the lockout on the horizon since Dewitt won't be paying anyone if there is one.

Not only is he in the inner circle, he's one of the most powerful owners in that ring and leading the charge for the lockout!

Goldfan wrote: ↑26 Sep 2025 18:33 pm If Arenado, Gray, and WC are traded and with Miles rolling off there is no one remaining making big money.
So what’s the reason?
CBA negotiations?
Destroyed Revenue Stream?
Greedy?
An entity doesn’t just go from having a payroll level with intention of competing then all of a sudden cutting it in half.
This rebuilding venture is just an excuse NOT to take on salaries. With the proper FA signings this offseason and with the talent here this club could compete. And the payroll would be back to normal level from years past.
Filling a complete starting squad internally is a pipe dream. At some point top outside talent will need to be brought in. No reason this can’t happen in ‘26 except for BDW pockets

Well it would be dumb to spend money on a team going into a rebuild. The smart thing to do is rebuild then when you develop and establish the pieces that you are going to build around you spend money to fill in the weaknesses the club has. I’m tired of hearing the word if they spend they can compete that’s loser talk I want them to build a good team that can actually do something in the post season not just compete. They aren’t close to the level of the brewers or even the cubs. Right now the only thing you can say this team has for strength is a few guys in the bullpen you can build a good relief corps around. Their rotation sucks their offense sucks they aren’t spending on one or two moves that will turn this team into a legitimate contender anyone who thinks they are are as delusional as the ones who were saying this was a 90 win team in the offseason

Cranny wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:46 am

Goldfan wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:35 am

Cranny wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 09:21 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 08:41 am CBA

It's now clear to me this "runway-rebuild" ruse was cooked up after the 2023 season by Dewitt knowing the CBA expiration after 2026 was going to (possibly) lead to a lockout.

Dewitt then put in place a MASSIVE payroll reduction plan, one that's seen his payroll fall from $178,449,072 in 2023 to possibly
under $90M in 2026 if he can shed the bulk of both S. Gray & NADO's salaries.

It appears to me that Dewitt wanted to go into the (potential) lockout w/as little payroll on the books as possible.

The "runway/re-build" gave him the ruse he needed to pull it off.

Thus why he didn't spend this season and won't again in 2026.

Perhaps after seeing his attendance fall under 2M in 2026 (unless C. Bloom pulls off a miracle roster rebuild that leads to a contending team) and his franchise value falls from $2.6B to (say) $2.3B, then and only then will he spend again.

JMO

Only those posters who have owned a business and had to make payroll every 2 weeks understand what’s going on.

Can you explain how running out a AAA team and lackey manager which reduced Busch and BPV revenue by 50% help??

Lowering of cable revenue too. It’s enough to make a company cut back on expenses.

Also the renters at ballpark village and apartments are complaining about cost and lack of customers due to fans not attending. They sold the ballpark village owners on 3m fans

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 11:32 am

Goldfan wrote: ↑26 Sep 2025 18:33 pm If Arenado, Gray, and WC are traded and with Miles rolling off there is no one remaining making big money.
So what’s the reason?
CBA negotiations?
Destroyed Revenue Stream?
Greedy?
An entity doesn’t just go from having a payroll level with intention of competing then all of a sudden cutting it in half.
This rebuilding venture is just an excuse NOT to take on salaries. With the proper FA signings this offseason and with the talent here this club could compete. And the payroll would be back to normal level from years past.
Filling a complete starting squad internally is a pipe dream. At some point top outside talent will need to be brought in. No reason this can’t happen in ‘26 except for BDW pockets

Well it would be dumb to spend money on a team going into a rebuild. The smart thing to do is rebuild then when you develop and establish the pieces that you are going to build around you spend money to fill in the weaknesses the club has. I’m tired of hearing the word if they spend they can compete that’s loser talk I want them to build a good team that can actually do something in the post season not just compete. They aren’t close to the level of the brewers or even the cubs. Right now the only thing you can say this team has for strength is a few guys in the bullpen you can build a good relief corps around. Their rotation sucks their offense sucks they aren’t spending on one or two moves that will turn this team into a legitimate contender anyone who thinks they are are as delusional as the ones who were saying this was a 90 win team in the offseason

Trade for a young star and extend him as a cornerstone for next 8-10 years is why. A rebuild stars with the 3-4 stars and grows from there

Youboughtit wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 11:47 am

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 11:32 am

Goldfan wrote: ↑26 Sep 2025 18:33 pm If Arenado, Gray, and WC are traded and with Miles rolling off there is no one remaining making big money.
So what’s the reason?
CBA negotiations?
Destroyed Revenue Stream?
Greedy?
An entity doesn’t just go from having a payroll level with intention of competing then all of a sudden cutting it in half.
This rebuilding venture is just an excuse NOT to take on salaries. With the proper FA signings this offseason and with the talent here this club could compete. And the payroll would be back to normal level from years past.
Filling a complete starting squad internally is a pipe dream. At some point top outside talent will need to be brought in. No reason this can’t happen in ‘26 except for BDW pockets

Well it would be dumb to spend money on a team going into a rebuild. The smart thing to do is rebuild then when you develop and establish the pieces that you are going to build around you spend money to fill in the weaknesses the club has. I’m tired of hearing the word if they spend they can compete that’s loser talk I want them to build a good team that can actually do something in the post season not just compete. They aren’t close to the level of the brewers or even the cubs. Right now the only thing you can say this team has for strength is a few guys in the bullpen you can build a good relief corps around. Their rotation sucks their offense sucks they aren’t spending on one or two moves that will turn this team into a legitimate contender anyone who thinks they are are as delusional as the ones who were saying this was a 90 win team in the offseason

Trade for a young star and extend him as a cornerstone for next 8-10 years is why. A rebuild stars with the 3-4 stars and grows from there

Well if you’re trading for a young star so long JJ and Doyle which is what it would take to get them then you have to find out how to come up with the other stars

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 14:43 pm

Youboughtit wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 11:47 am

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2025 11:32 am

Goldfan wrote: ↑26 Sep 2025 18:33 pm If Arenado, Gray, and WC are traded and with Miles rolling off there is no one remaining making big money.
So what’s the reason?
CBA negotiations?
Destroyed Revenue Stream?
Greedy?
An entity doesn’t just go from having a payroll level with intention of competing then all of a sudden cutting it in half.
This rebuilding venture is just an excuse NOT to take on salaries. With the proper FA signings this offseason and with the talent here this club could compete. And the payroll would be back to normal level from years past.
Filling a complete starting squad internally is a pipe dream. At some point top outside talent will need to be brought in. No reason this can’t happen in ‘26 except for BDW pockets

Well it would be dumb to spend money on a team going into a rebuild. The smart thing to do is rebuild then when you develop and establish the pieces that you are going to build around you spend money to fill in the weaknesses the club has. I’m tired of hearing the word if they spend they can compete that’s loser talk I want them to build a good team that can actually do something in the post season not just compete. They aren’t close to the level of the brewers or even the cubs. Right now the only thing you can say this team has for strength is a few guys in the bullpen you can build a good relief corps around. Their rotation sucks their offense sucks they aren’t spending on one or two moves that will turn this team into a legitimate contender anyone who thinks they are are as delusional as the ones who were saying this was a 90 win team in the offseason

Trade for a young star and extend him as a cornerstone for next 8-10 years is why. A rebuild stars with the 3-4 stars and grows from there

Well if you’re trading for a young star so long JJ and Doyle which is what it would take to get them then you have to find out how to come up with the other stars

Not if a pending FA or 1-2 years cost control left. Get a 5th year player trade for him and sign an extension. Like the Cubs did for Tucker but make an extension part of the deal.

45s wrote: ↑26 Sep 2025 20:00 pm It gives credence to the proposition that the club will be on the market.

Less committed expense/debt enhances the value.

Bad assumption on the owners part then. In a $2 billion transaction, A $100m contract or two even if it’s $50m underwater is a rounding error.

But the incremental revenue from 3m vs 2m fans when it’s getting a 12x or 15x multiple applied to it to determine transaction value makes an enourmous difference.

You can absolutely sell a business with long term liabilities attached as long as your revenue is great enough to cover them and hopefully trending up. Instead he’s taking the team into an over conservative death spiral that will destroy all the value accumulated over the past decades.

I can understand not spending a bunch of money in 2026, depending on who is out there in free agency. Why lock up a bunch of players to contracts when the entire goal is draft, develop, and then spend money to fill in the gaps. I don't see what about 2025 would convince you that we have enough home grown talent to make a few signings for quality free agents or trades for good players with big contracts and be truly competitive.

Now, 2027 might be a different story. If we ignore the whole possibility of a lockout, then yea, some of these young players might start being in positions to contribute and it might be smart to start spending more money then.

But I do side with people who say that this team isn't that bad and we're not far off, so don't let the front office convince you that we have to save money for the next five years or so. I just don't know that next year is the best time to do it. I mean, maybe if there's a Bryce Harper type that would be willing to sign a big contract with a team that might be a few years from competing and also be young enough to lock up and get a bunch of prime years. But not sure how likely that is.