Toronto this years Baltimore
Every year in baseball there is a team with money to burn that pushes the market to crazy numbers.
Previous years saw huge contracts from the likes of Arizona and Baltimore. This year it's the Mets and Blue Jays.
The lesson to learn from this is of course obvious. You never want to build your team via free agency (unless you're the Yanks). The price you have to pay for premium talent is SO high you will never build a team by giving relievers with one great year 5-year contracts.
The only place for large contracts is where you simply have no other choice to fill a need and you feel you will get appreciably better by that one player.
The long term plan has to be the farm system.
The problem for the Mariners is two-fold. They have quite a few holes to feel AND they are not willing to expand the budget.
Thinking the M's won't contend for a playoff spot for at least two more years is not being pessimistic.
It's being realistic.
Every year in baseball there is a team with money to burn that pushes the market to crazy numbers.
Previous years saw huge contracts from the likes of Arizona and Baltimore. This year it's the Mets and Blue Jays.
The lesson to learn from this is of course obvious. You never want to build your team via free agency (unless you're the Yanks). The price you have to pay for premium talent is SO high you will never build a team by giving relievers with one great year 5-year contracts.
The only place for large contracts is where you simply have no other choice to fill a need and you feel you will get appreciably better by that one player.
The long term plan has to be the farm system.
The problem for the Mariners is two-fold. They have quite a few holes to feel AND they are not willing to expand the budget.
Thinking the M's won't contend for a playoff spot for at least two more years is not being pessimistic.
It's being realistic.
posted by Tom at
2:19 PM
