What would a Betts extension be?

[S5Dewey]

I love it when a player leaves money on the table to play for a team that they really love.

 

I understand the reasons you've stated for why this doesn't happen more often. I'm guessing the players union also really frowns upon players taking discounts. I always wonder, however, what can you do with $250 mil that you can't do with $220 mil? IMO, the player's ego plays a big part in going after the most money.

 

This was exactly the question I asked when the Sox offered Bruce Hurst $4.8M and he went to the Padres for $5.2M. I asked, "What's he going to buy with $5.2M that he can't afford with $4.8M?"

 

(Obviously the answer there is anything that costs $400,000, but still...)

[cp176]

I think that it is nice that we do see from time to time some players choosing to take a little less contract wise to stay put so to speak. I like seeing it but I still stop short of putting the proverbial halo around their heads. They all are being given "big money". If you sign a contract that guarantees you anything north of 10 million dollars and you don't think that this is enough to sustain you and yours for generations to come, there really is something wrong with you. Of course we as well as they want as much as we can get, but at what point is enough actually enough? I surely don't know how it all plays out but it sure looks to me that the people in the best positions to profit during these times are the owners. Current restrictive spending rules as well as a greater use of statistical data discouraging the signing of players over the age of 30 to anything resembling long term, seems to me to play right into the hands of the people who sign the big checks.

[Bellhorn04]

This was exactly the question I asked when the Sox offered Bruce Hurst $4.8M and he went to the Padres for $5.2M. I asked, "What's he going to buy with $5.2M that he can't afford with $4.8M?"

 

(Obviously the answer there is anything that costs $400,000, but still...)

 

I think Hurst was also happy about going to San Diego and getting away from the Boston circus. That was a bummer when he left.

[sk7326]

I get the idea that people don't want the owners pocketing the money, and they'd rather see it going to the players. With Henry, I feel like he spends more than an ample amount on payroll, so that hasn't been an issue for me. Ideally, he throw some of that money back to the fans in the way of cheaper tickets, but I know that's not happening.

 

I just keep hoping for those players who aren't all about the money. I understand that Mookie (or any player) has the right for to go for the most money. I just find it disheartening.

 

That is NEVER happening. The two choices (what to pay players, what to charge fans) have little to do with each other. Players aren't all about the money - but this is not a charity either. They are among the 700 or so best people in the world at their jobs. Henry is not as stingy as Steinbrenner, I have no issues with what he wants to spend (and obviously Miami is a much starker version). But given what the fans are asked to do, it'd be silly if he didn't.

[sk7326]

This was exactly the question I asked when the Sox offered Bruce Hurst $4.8M and he went to the Padres for $5.2M. I asked, "What's he going to buy with $5.2M that he can't afford with $4.8M?"

 

(Obviously the answer there is anything that costs $400,000, but still...)

 

If somebody makes a choice over that little, it is probably not the money alone.

[Kimmi]

That is NEVER happening. The two choices (what to pay players, what to charge fans) have little to do with each other. Players aren't all about the money - but this is not a charity either. They are among the 700 or so best people in the world at their jobs. Henry is not as stingy as Steinbrenner, I have no issues with what he wants to spend (and obviously Miami is a much starker version). But given what the fans are asked to do, it'd be silly if he didn't.

 

I get that this is not a charity, but I disagree that players aren't all about the money. IMO, most of them are.

 

I have no complaints about the teams that the Red Sox have put together since Henry took over ownership. If he pockets a little more money over handing out a ludicrous contract, I'm good with that. If he were pocketing a lot of money and putting crappy teams on the field, that would be a different story.

[Bellhorn04]

I get that this is not a charity, but I disagree that players aren't all about the money. IMO, most of them are.

 

By the same token, most of the owners are too.

[notin]

By the same token, most of the owners are too.

 

 

And, let’s be real here, the fans, too.,,

[Bellhorn04]

And, let’s be real here, the fans, too.,,

 

I think the fans are more like the donors. The problem with fans, as such, is that they crave entertainment, they want the very best, and they will pay for it. So they are the ones who feed the machine.

[jacksonianmarch]

You have to figure most baseball players have spent at least 3 years in the minors, 3 years getting good salaries by the average person's standards, but not enough to live off forever. Then they get 3 years of arb salaries which could be enough to set themselves up, maybe, maybe not. Guys who reach the 9 year pinnacle and are lucky enough to stare big money in the face, you better believe they're gonna be about the money. The next contract is the one that sets your entire family up for generations and allows you to live a life of luxury from retirement until death, which for most players is 45 or more years. Second contracts are about the money plus the fit, but that first FA contract is all about the money

[Bellhorn04]

You have to figure most baseball players have spent at least 3 years in the minors, 3 years getting good salaries by the average person's standards, but not enough to live off forever. Then they get 3 years of arb salaries which could be enough to set themselves up, maybe, maybe not. Guys who reach the 9 year pinnacle and are lucky enough to stare big money in the face, you better believe they're gonna be about the money. The next contract is the one that sets your entire family up for generations and allows you to live a life of luxury from retirement until death, which for most players is 45 or more years. Second contracts are about the money plus the fit, but that first FA contract is all about the money

 

Yeah, I agree, that's the big payoff of their lives right there.

[S5Dewey]

You have to figure most baseball players have spent at least 3 years in the minors, 3 years getting good salaries by the average person's standards, but not enough to live off forever. Then they get 3 years of arb salaries which could be enough to set themselves up, maybe, maybe not. Guys who reach the 9 year pinnacle and are lucky enough to stare big money in the face, you better believe they're gonna be about the money. The next contract is the one that sets your entire family up for generations and allows you to live a life of luxury from retirement until death, which for most players is 45 or more years. Second contracts are about the money plus the fit, but that first FA contract is all about the money

Am I the only one who finds that "setting an entire family up for generations and allows you to live a life of luxury from retirement {from baseball at maybe age 40} until death" is just a tad ridiculous for someone whose only contribution to society is playing baseball?

 

I know that's the way it is, but am I the only one who feels that way??

[Bellhorn04]

Am I the only one who finds that "setting an entire family up for generations and allows you to live a life of luxury from retirement {from baseball at maybe age 40} until death" is just a tad ridiculous for someone whose only contribution to society is playing baseball?

 

I know that's the way it is, but am I the only one who feels that way??

 

It's the American Dream, isn't it, for athletes and artists and entertainers, to reach the top of their profession and become absurdly rich and famous?

[S5Dewey]

It's the American Dream, isn't it, for athletes and artists and entertainers, to reach the top of their profession and become absurdly rich and famous?

 

It would almost make one glad to be Canadian.

[Bellhorn04]

Dewey, when it comes to major league sports, never forget that it's us, the fans, who are financing the whole thing, pouring billons into the coffers. And why do we do it? Like I said, it's the craving for entertainment.

[jacksonianmarch]

Am I the only one who finds that "setting an entire family up for generations and allows you to live a life of luxury from retirement {from baseball at maybe age 40} until death" is just a tad ridiculous for someone whose only contribution to society is playing baseball?

 

I know that's the way it is, but am I the only one who feels that way??

 

It is entertainment and the players bring in far more than they will ever see, even the big contracts

[dgalehouse]

Dewey, when it comes to major league sports, never forget that it's us, the fans, who are financing the whole thing, pouring billons into the coffers. And why do we do it? Like I said, it's the craving for entertainment.

 

We should know we are hooked when we start referring to our favorite team as " we " . " We " are not sharing in the profits . " We " are paying the bills. But " we " don't seem to mind as long as " we " feel we are getting our money's worth.

[dgalehouse]

And, let’s be real here, the fans, too.,,

 

It is part of the human instinct. This is a rat race , after all .

[Kimmi]

By the same token, most of the owners are too.

 

Maybe. I don't follow the other owners closely enough to know.

 

I don't think you can say that Henry is all about the money. If he were, he wouldn't eat the contracts that he has eaten.

[Kimmi]

And, let’s be real here, the fans, too.,,

 

Not me.

 

I'm the bargain shopper, remember?

[Kimmi]

You have to figure most baseball players have spent at least 3 years in the minors, 3 years getting good salaries by the average person's standards, but not enough to live off forever. Then they get 3 years of arb salaries which could be enough to set themselves up, maybe, maybe not. Guys who reach the 9 year pinnacle and are lucky enough to stare big money in the face, you better believe they're gonna be about the money. The next contract is the one that sets your entire family up for generations and allows you to live a life of luxury from retirement until death, which for most players is 45 or more years. Second contracts are about the money plus the fit, but that first FA contract is all about the money

 

I get all that, but I still have to wonder what you can do with $250 mil that you can't do with $220 mil.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe. I don't follow the other owners closely enough to know.

 

I don't think you can say that Henry is all about the money. If he were, he wouldn't eat the contracts that he has eaten.

 

The Red Sox have the highest average ticket prices in baseball, so they're certainly not running a charity, right?

[Kimmi]

The Red Sox have the highest average ticket prices in baseball, so they're certainly not running a charity, right?

 

No, they certainly are not.

[oldtimer]

I get all that, but I still have to wonder what you can do with $250 mil that you can't do with $220 mil.

 

Pay your agent another $3 million.

[sk7326]

I get that this is not a charity, but I disagree that players aren't all about the money. IMO, most of them are.

 

I have no complaints about the teams that the Red Sox have put together since Henry took over ownership. If he pockets a little more money over handing out a ludicrous contract, I'm good with that. If he were pocketing a lot of money and putting crappy teams on the field, that would be a different story.

 

I just don't see why I should expect anybody to take 30% less. And if you are a team that wants to keep a guy, why would you offer 30% less? That's where I am curious. What is "all about the money"? Players can (and often do) choose better places among close offers.

[Kimmi]

Pay your agent another $3 million.

 

Ha. Well played.

[Kimmi]

I just don't see why I should expect anybody to take 30% less. And if you are a team that wants to keep a guy, why would you offer 30% less? That's where I am curious. What is "all about the money"? Players can (and often do) choose better places among close offers.

 

There often seems to be that one team that is going to outbid all other teams by a wide enough margin, not necessarily $30 mil, that the other GMs aren't going to match it. And in such a case, the player always, as far as I recall, goes with the money, which the player absolutely has every right to do.

 

I'm just wondering what things like being happy in the city you play for, having a legit shot at a championship, not having to uproot your family, etc. are worth.

[Nick]

It's laughable to suggest that baseball players must earn entire life's worth of living expenses during their baseball career. So what if Dustin has a bum knee. He can't do anything else to earn money?

 

They can go get a f***ing job like rest of us when they retire at 30!.

[cp176]

It's laughable to suggest that baseball players must earn entire life's worth of living expenses during their baseball career. So what if Dustin has a bum knee. He can't do anything else to earn money?

 

They can go get a f***ing job like rest of us when they retire at 30!.

 

What is more laughable to me is that anyone might think that 10 to 20 million dollars isn't enough to accommodate a generational fund. These guys are just whack job rich. Pedroia for sure never has to work another day of his life if he so chooses. He is certainly not alone.

[sk7326]

There often seems to be that one team that is going to outbid all other teams by a wide enough margin, not necessarily $30 mil, that the other GMs aren't going to match it. And in such a case, the player always, as far as I recall, goes with the money, which the player absolutely has every right to do.

 

I'm just wondering what things like being happy in the city you play for, having a legit shot at a championship, not having to uproot your family, etc. are worth.

 

Probably the same with any of us and our respective real world jobs. Is there a price (and a quality of company) that could get me to relocate? Sure - but (fortunately for now) the price is high.