Baseball and the current economy

[fjk090852-2]

I wonder with the current state of the economy, and more teams watching how they spend, if the Bucs may cash in on a player or two they did not have on their radar. This may be similar to the year they signed Lofton, and Sanders. There may be a decent player or two waiting to be signed in early February.

[lefty]

I agree with you. BUT, only if the nuttings allow it to happen. A big IF.  There should be some not too old players avaialable that could be part of the long term solution, not just another temporary band aid. This should allow the Bucs to step up in class from their usual mark down/clearance signings.

It will be interesting to see if they use the economy as an excuse, OR, they use it as an opportunity.

Fortunately, the Bucs have as few expensive contracts as almost any team, after they unloaded X, Bay, and Marte last year, even with JW still here. With their relatively low cost structure, and subsidies from other clubs still coming in, the Bucs are better prepared to thrive in a recession than most clubs. No sackcloth nor celebrity benefits for the nuttings will be needed.

[Dogknot3]

Why would a Lofton or a Sanders be needed? 

I don't want the Pirates to waste money on a 35 year old when they are rebuilding?  They need to bring in younger talent that might have been passed on, not older veterans that no one wanted to sign. 

These types of moves didn't work for Littlefield and they probably won't work for Huntington either.  When you rebuild, you bring in young players in hopes they pan out. 

[magnumo]

Unfortunately, the current economy hasn't bothered the Yankees at all..... since they have just spent almost a QUARTER OF A BILLION dollars on two starting pitchers.  Although Sabathia and Burnett are GOOD starting pitchers, and MAY be worth that kind of money (although I doubt it seriously), this points up everything that's wrong with MLB.  I have just about given up hope that MLB will EVER see any kind of financial parity.

[Thunder]

Unfortunately, the current economy hasn't bothered the Yankees at all..... since they have just spent almost a QUARTER OF A BILLION dollars on two starting pitchers.  Although Sabathia and Burnett are GOOD starting pitchers, and MAY be worth that kind of money (although I doubt it seriously), this points up everything that's wrong with MLB.  I have just about given up hope that MLB will EVER see any kind of financial parity.

It must have bothered the Yankees a little bit. They had the unmitigated gall to ask the Brewers to pay a large chunk of Mike Cameron's contract in the proposed Cameron-Melky Cabrera deal...shortly after commiting $160M to get Sabathia to sign with them instead of the Brewers. Doug Melvin rightfully was offended by the request.