people often forget that many times ownership thinks about the business side of signing a player to a contract first and foremost. not just the baseball aspect. panda jerseys, tshirts, hats, merch was a YUUUUGE seller in SF. until The Butterball proved to be an east coast disaster there was no reason for ownership to think Panda merch wouldnt be flying off the shelves.....
it's the same reason we drove a brinks truck to Dice-K and the Japanese Market.....