Jan 21
“This year will end a streak of 12 straight offseasons in which the Mets signed at least one free agent to a contract with a total value of at least $10 million. ”
- Mark Simon, ESPN
Make sure to read the rest of his article it’s an interesting read.
MLBTradeRumors
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21 comments
njstuckintx
1/21/2011-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
Go Team! I think…
stickguy
1/21/2011-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
no big deal. Like I said before, Omar bought all the expensive toys, so until those bills are paid off, Sandy doesn’t get to shop at the expensive stores.
There should be at least 1, sometimes 2, expensive deals expiring every year now, which will help with the flexibility they don’t have now.
Of course, winning and pushing for the playoffs (thereby selling more tickets, putting more asses in the seats, and making more money) is the best plan, since that is what will allow them to raise the payroll.
actually, that is what allowed the Phils to go on their recent spree. Sell out the place every game, and count on post season revenue (they are going to hurt big time if they tail off and miss the playoffs!)
THey also afforded Lee by raising ticket prices for 2011. Average was ~$5 a ticket. Doesn’t sound like much, but when you sell 3.5mill of them, you are looking at about $17mill in “free” revenue.
metsfan4decades
1/21/2011-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
Did you see that gazillion dollar-biggest-by-far HD screen Philly put in at CBP?
You’ve got a point that when you sell out your stadium night after night for several years you’ll have a little coin to spend.
gategem
1/22/2011-9:04pm at 9:04 pm (UTC -4)
You’ve probably touched on the dilemma facing a team with resources. Do you draw a line in the sand and refuse to increase your payroll or do you invest hoping that the additional quality players will result in a contending team that puts fannies in the seats? It is an investment but if the team still fails the fans will not come and it will just increase the owner’s losses.
stickguy
1/22/2011-11:56pm at 11:56 pm (UTC -4)
on this point, there was an interesting quote tonight posted on MLBTR:
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf told Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago that it was a tough decision to add payroll this offseason. “Last year we weren’t as good as we thought we could be,” said Reinsdorf. “Our attendance was down … I just decided two days before the Adam Dunn signing, ‘Let’s go for it.’ If we spend the money, the attendance will pick up.”
metsfan4decades
1/21/2011-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting…I didn’t realize that.
Somehow, I think most Met fans would be perfectly fine with the mindset this year, if Johan wasn’t injured. As it is, looks like there’s a fair percentage that are still calling the Mets ‘cheap’.
stickguy
1/21/2011-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
Ollie was not on the list because K Rod was the same year, and more $. This only lists the highest per season.
and before anyone says the pirates are out spending the mets, the only thing that matters is the total payroll for the season. The analysis also does not factor in salaries shaved off that year, offsetting any money spent.
kistics
1/21/2011-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
To me, this just sounds like he wants to stir up the fans.
kistics
1/21/2011-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
My opinion… who cares…
stickguy
1/21/2011-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
we care. really we do!
I did read the article, and it certainyl wasn’t a hachet job. I think he was actually being positive about the future direction. But of course, pointing out the recent past with expensive FAs is, by definition, going to be ugly!
TRS86
1/21/2011-3:57pm at 3:57 pm (UTC -4)
Never spending is bad, spending wisely and holding your chips when playing with an iffy hand is good.
stickguy
1/21/2011-4:02pm at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
as I imagine just about everyone here knows, living on a budget sucks!
TRS86
1/21/2011-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
The greatest problem in life is wanting what you don’t have and not wanting what you have.
metsfan4decades
1/21/2011-5:19pm at 5:19 pm (UTC -4)
And I still think that Philly going ‘all in’, with that aging roster they’ve got, is going to be a problem sooner rather than later. Same with the Yankees but the Yankees will just go out and print more money.
stickguy
1/21/2011-9:41pm at 9:41 pm (UTC -4)
agreed on the phils. From reading a lot about them (local paper and all) they are probably maxed out on all their credit cards at this point. And a couple of big injuries to the wrong guys, combined with some more old age decline, and they won’t be looking like quite such the dynamo.
the real interesting thing with them will be over the next couple years when key guys contracts expire, to see how well they can replace them.
metsfan4decades
1/21/2011-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
Mets Sign Blaine Boyer (who?) to a minor league deal. Non-tendered by the D’backs. Invite to ST.
Boy, we’re sure stock piling some arms this year in the minors.
Prismo
1/21/2011-6:10pm at 6:10 pm (UTC -4)
He has ~ok~ stats in the majors last season, so it’s a good MINOR league deal. Could be serviceable in middle relief. He just lets too many guys get on base – both walks and hits.
stickguy
1/21/2011-9:41pm at 9:41 pm (UTC -4)
buffalo needs pitchers in the BP too you know.
kingman 26
1/21/2011-6:52pm at 6:52 pm (UTC -4)
That list was really eye-opening.
More support for the idea that big-money FA signings is NOT the way to build a winner.
Prismo
1/21/2011-7:08pm at 7:08 pm (UTC -4)
Blue Jays trade Vernon Wells to the Angels for Mike Napoli.
Oy vei!
stickguy
1/21/2011-9:43pm at 9:43 pm (UTC -4)
man, napoli has tumbled back to earth. Last year or 2, I remember many discussions with TRS about trying to get him. I think it was with him. Well, maybe I talked to myself about it.
and trading vernon wells,, unless they ate a huge portion of the contract, is a miracle unto itself.