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Yeah, yeah, they love their community blah, blah, blah. MLB players usually retire by the time they're 40 so they've got their entire lives to be in the community of their preference. They've got limited years to play baseball and if they're not playing for a championship I don't want them on the team anyway. Not saying that players should waive their NTC to just go to another middling team but if they've got the opportunity to go to it a city that's playing for the playoffs and a championship they should take it if they're playing to win.

And in many or most cases they're an impediment to the city and team they say they want to be a part of.

ForumPolice wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:17 pm Yeah, yeah, they love their community blah, blah, blah. MLB players usually retire by the time they're 40 so they've got their entire lives to be in the community of their preference. They've got limited years to play baseball and if they're not playing for a championship I don't want them on the team anyway. Not saying that players should waive their NTC to just go to another middling team but if they've got the opportunity to go to it a city that's playing for the playoffs and a championship they should take it if they're playing to win.

And in many or most cases they're an impediment to the city and team they say they want to be a part of.

I know it’s really weird.

ForumPolice wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:17 pm Yeah, yeah, they love their community blah, blah, blah. MLB players usually retire by the time they're 40 so they've got their entire lives to be in the community of their preference. They've got limited years to play baseball and if they're not playing for a championship I don't want them on the team anyway. Not saying that players should waive their NTC to just go to another middling team but if they've got the opportunity to go to it a city that's playing for the playoffs and a championship they should take it if they're playing to win.

And in many or most cases they're an impediment to the city and team they say they want to be a part of.

The cases are different for each player. Arenado will take a trade but only to team he wants to go to. I get that why would he want to take a trade to a team he doesn’t want to play for in city he doesn’t want to play in when he has his family to think about. Gray I’m not sure he did horrible in New York so I’m pretty sure he’s more of a mid western kind of guy and doesnt want to just play for anyone. Contreras has said before he likes it here he thinks he can be a benefit to the team and the young players and can help them win it may be delusional but I get that also

ForumPolice wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:17 pm Yeah, yeah, they love their community blah, blah, blah. MLB players usually retire by the time they're 40 so they've got their entire lives to be in the community of their preference. They've got limited years to play baseball and if they're not playing for a championship I don't want them on the team anyway. Not saying that players should waive their NTC to just go to another middling team but if they've got the opportunity to go to it a city that's playing for the playoffs and a championship they should take it if they're playing to win.

And in many or most cases they're an impediment to the city and team they say they want to be a part of.

Tremendous amount of truth here.

To add. Why work where you're not wanted? No team with a losing record would pursue them
so they're going to a contender. Are they just too comfortable?

I do understand there are some bad fits. City, coaches, playing time but
zero teams you'd go to seems wrong.

Bottom line is that they earned their NTC and nobody forced management to give them one. And no one should be upset, suspicious or whatever if someone chooses to use their contractual rights.

freed5179 wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:45 pm Bottom line is that they earned their NTC and nobody forced management to give them one. And no one should be upset, suspicious or whatever if someone chooses to use their contractual rights.

Yep. Takes at least 2 parties to agree to a contract/trade.

freed5179 wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:45 pm Bottom line is that they earned their NTC and nobody forced management to give them one. And no one should be upset, suspicious or whatever if someone chooses to use their contractual rights.

MLB owners are dumb as [shirt] so of course I blame them for handing out NTC's. I actually think Mo starts out every contract negotiation with one attached because he's a box of rocks. Doesn't change my opinion on a player sitting on a team without a prayer of the playoffs being content in that situation. I'm sure some of them actually enjoy playing for a team that's spinning their wheels because they don't want the stress or pressure of actually having to produce. If you're on a team with no prayer and have no interest in playing for a contender then you're playing baseball to cash a check, not to win. That's why I don't want them

When a player reaches a certain level of excellence it is a common contract demand, and they almost always get it. It’s the team’s fault for giving it to them, especially in their decline years.

All part of the penalty for having to bid on free agents for not balancing replacement assets well enough in draft/development/trades.

We can say “we” would do things differently but billionaires aren’t lining up to throw millions per year for our more common skills.

These guys live in a different world and take whatever advantages they can get. They become corporations themselves and involved in much more than sports. I can guarantee a World Series title is more important to most fans than players. Especially the ones who’ve made their fortunes.

freed5179 wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:45 pm Bottom line is that they earned their NTC and nobody forced management to give them one. And no one should be upset, suspicious or whatever if someone chooses to use their contractual rights.

Most or many have 10/5 rights anyway.
We disagree here if a player has zero teams he would go to.

We play to win, enjoy what we do and a shot at a ring.
The opposite environment isn't enjoyable or competitive.
There is an extreme here though, running to a front runner,
not being a part of the fix. That would be equally weak position.

CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:54 pm I can guarantee a World Series title is more important to most fans than players. Especially the ones who’ve made their fortunes.

As I've observed sports over the years, this sadly seems to be more truer than not.

CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:54 pm When a player reaches a certain level of excellence it is a common contract demand, and they almost always get it. It’s the team’s fault for giving it to them, especially in their decline years.

All part of the penalty for having to bid on free agents for not balancing replacement assets well enough in draft/development/trades.

We can say “we” would do things differently but billionaires aren’t lining up to throw millions per year for our more common skills.

These guys live in a different world and take whatever advantages they can get. They become corporations themselves and involved in much more than sports. I can guarantee a World Series title is more important to most fans than players. Especially the ones who’ve made their fortunes.

They get it with 10/5 rights anyway; it's a small give and sometimes used to get a bonus

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:39 pm

ForumPolice wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:17 pm Yeah, yeah, they love their community blah, blah, blah. MLB players usually retire by the time they're 40 so they've got their entire lives to be in the community of their preference. They've got limited years to play baseball and if they're not playing for a championship I don't want them on the team anyway. Not saying that players should waive their NTC to just go to another middling team but if they've got the opportunity to go to it a city that's playing for the playoffs and a championship they should take it if they're playing to win.

And in many or most cases they're an impediment to the city and team they say they want to be a part of.

The cases are different for each player. Arenado will take a trade but only to team he wants to go to. I get that why would he want to take a trade to a team he doesn’t want to play for in city he doesn’t want to play in when he has his family to think about. Gray I’m not sure he did horrible in New York so I’m pretty sure he’s more of a mid western kind of guy and doesnt want to just play for anyone. Contreras has said before he likes it here he thinks he can be a benefit to the team and the young players and can help them win it may be delusional but I get that also

Arenado is easily the most pathetic "superstar" I've ever seen in a Cardinals uniform, which is only 20 years or so that I've followed closely. Just when you thought his numbers couldn't get any worse than last season ... I mean does the guy never lift a weight in his life or something? I half expect to see him doing water aerobics at the Y. You'd think he's nearing social security with quickly he's dropped to nothing.

blackinkbiz wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 13:08 pm

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:39 pm

ForumPolice wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:17 pm Yeah, yeah, they love their community blah, blah, blah. MLB players usually retire by the time they're 40 so they've got their entire lives to be in the community of their preference. They've got limited years to play baseball and if they're not playing for a championship I don't want them on the team anyway. Not saying that players should waive their NTC to just go to another middling team but if they've got the opportunity to go to it a city that's playing for the playoffs and a championship they should take it if they're playing to win.

And in many or most cases they're an impediment to the city and team they say they want to be a part of.

The cases are different for each player. Arenado will take a trade but only to team he wants to go to. I get that why would he want to take a trade to a team he doesn’t want to play for in city he doesn’t want to play in when he has his family to think about. Gray I’m not sure he did horrible in New York so I’m pretty sure he’s more of a mid western kind of guy and doesnt want to just play for anyone. Contreras has said before he likes it here he thinks he can be a benefit to the team and the young players and can help them win it may be delusional but I get that also

Arenado is easily the most pathetic "superstar" I've ever seen in a Cardinals uniform, which is only 20 years or so that I've followed closely. Just when you thought his numbers couldn't get any worse than last season ... I mean does the guy never lift a weight in his life or something? I half expect to see him doing water aerobics at the Y. You'd think he's nearing social security with quickly he's dropped to nothing.

I heard last year he played Torrey Pines from 5500.

freed5179 wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:45 pm Bottom line is that they earned their NTC and nobody forced management to give them one. And no one should be upset, suspicious or whatever if someone chooses to use their contractual rights.

How such a terrible pitcher like Mikolas was able to get a NTC makes Moe look even worse

Jobu's Rum wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 13:13 pm

freed5179 wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 12:45 pm Bottom line is that they earned their NTC and nobody forced management to give them one. And no one should be upset, suspicious or whatever if someone chooses to use their contractual rights.

How such a terrible pitcher like Mikolas was able to get a NTC makes Moe look even worse

I asked Mo about that. He told me there's no possible way you're getting someone of his caliber for $18m per year without sweetening the pot. As we well know every team in the league was clamoring for his services....

I understand the sentiment, but it's grossly underestimating everything that goes into unrooting one's life to move to another team/city. Could be any number of perfectly valid reasons to want to stay put (or veto certain places). People want these players to be robots, but they are just human beings. Not everyone is going to be a Jordan or Kobe who wants to win at all costs, and that's ok.

Especially someone like Arenado who has a family now. Your wife has her community and friends. Your kids have their school and friends. The player has his relationships. Maybe he's close to where his extended family is. Maybe just finished remodeling their dream house. Established a charitable foundation/relationship. Any number of things that makes moving a giant decision.

Life extends beyond baseball for these players. Especially once they've signed for their big money contract. How many times have you moved your family across the country for work?