Show Me the Money

Athletes continue to demand high contracts. When organizations are willing to hand out money, why not? Athletes such as Dez Bryant and Richard Sherman like to say that they don't care about the money but they want the respect that goes with the flashy new deal. 

My problem with forking over $300 million to Giancarlo Stanton is it will hurt the Marlins organization more than it would help them. I'm not saying Stanton isn't worth a lot. He had a MVP type season, and he is the Marlin's best player. I'm saying that the organization would be tied down financially for a long time. The Marlins would invest highly in one outfield position when they have several other positions that need to be fixed. In any sport, one player can't carry a team but baseball is probably the hardest to do that. A player can step up to bat four times a game and hit four home runs but that doesn't mean the pitcher will perform well. The other players on the field may make errors and end up losing 4-5. We have seen organization spend heavily on players in the past. The Yankees are notorious for doing this. It works for the Yankees for a few years but then they spent multiple years in a slump because they have no players and no money to spend. The Los Angeles Angels have spent a lot of money the past few years on Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, CJ Wilson, and Mike Trout, and they have yet to win a World Series with them. The Minnesota Twins spent a lot of money on Joe Mauer. The team has struggled ever since and that isn't all on Mauer. Sure Mauer has been struggling the last few years, but the has little money to put else where. The Rockies have the same situation with Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki. 

Now as a fan, one of the hardest things to see is your team's star player walk away to a big contract somewhere else. Ask Cleveland Cavalier fans how they felt about LeBron James in 2010. I wanted the Minnesota Twins to do what ever it takes to keep the homeboy Joe Mauer, but I was thinking short term. The Twins should have let him wear pinstripes. In sports you pay a player based on what he did not what he will do. Often times when you are paying a player the big bucks they are nearing the end of their glory days. It doesn't mean it's true for all cases but mainly in baseball. In football, Aaron Rodgers got a huge contract, and he is playing like he deserves it. 

Look at the New England Patriots. They hardly ever spend money on one single position. Tom Brady is one of the best ever but he doesn't get paid like it, but he knows the rings are more important. The Patriots want to evenly distribute among all positions so they can constantly compete and don't have a lot of weak spots. The Oakland Athletics do a very similar thing. 

In order to win, you will have to open the checkbook but just be careful on how many zeros you add to the number.