The only real “fix” is to share TV revenue like the NFL does. But that will never happen. It’s not practical and the Yankees/Dodgers/Cubs/Red Sox will never allow it. This is the model for MLB. The expanded Postseason has helped, but 70% of the teams start out in February with no shot. That’s just the way it is.
The giant playoff field is, for the moment, working as a circuit breaker. It produces just enough randomness to keep the same 3 or 4 teams from dominating year after year.
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Then why in god’s name should anyone want to funnel them more money by splitting TV revenue equally across the league? (which is where the discussion started)
Because they want to the league to survive. Why do NFL owners split TV revenue? Because it makes them even more money at the end of the day. When the league folds, they have no product to sell. Which really cuts into the profits.
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Yep. Has the nfl suffered with KC and Buffalo being great while both NY teams suck donkey nuts?
Their pile of money is so high they look down on Everest.
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In the 70s, the NFL was in the verge of financial collapse. They finally got together, mostly because of one man, Buccaneers owner Hugh Culverhouse, who told them they were sitting on a fucking gold mine, but were pissing it away competing with each other. He made them realize they were not competitors, but partners in this enterprise called the NFL. Thinking that way made them into a financial juggernaut. MLB has never latched on to that idea, so the big clubs and the small clubs try to squeeze as much as they can out of each other. Granted, it’s easier for the NFL by the nature of the schedule, but it’s largely been this realization by owners that has turned them into an economy all by themselves, regardless of whether it’s the New York Giants or the Kansas City Chiefs who are the best teams on the field.
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Maybe it was on 60 Minutes, or some news show – they were interviewing a drug dealer who had his image shadowed out and his voice altered. He said: “You can tell how much someone wants to get high by how much they are willing to spend.”
In the MLB you can tell how badly a team wants to win by how much money they are willing to spend.
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Every team has a cap on what they are willing to spend, some are just higher than others. I’m not sure that correlates to the desire to win.
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“My friend” posted this morning that the Astros have had multiple talks with the Cardinals about multiple players. The Cardinsls are actively looking to make deals.
The Astros are asking about Donovan and the Cardinals like Arrighetti “and others”
The Astros also like Contreras, but there is serious doubts whether anything can get done. Apparently he has a full no trade clause and so far is refusing to even consider accepting any deal.
He is reporting they are also talking quote a bit with the Rays, Phillies, and Giants.
As for 3b, he says Bregman is still the top priority and they continue to stay in contact with Adames’ agent as a backup if Alex signs somewhere else.
Apparently Jorge Polanco is being talked about as a possible plan C
Its pretty obvious the entire organization feels that the 2025 3b is not currently in the organization.
Dezenzo has a real shot to make the team and play a lot of 1b but they are also working him out in RF and LF.
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Let’s hope they don’t get to Plan C.
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I’d prefer they not let Arrighetti go. He is a thinking pitcher that studies the art/craft in detail and seems to have just enough physical attributes that can likely convert that into some success. He seems like a properly hinged Trevor Bauer to me.
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I agree…would like to see them keep Arrighetti.
Maybe someone would take McCullers off their hands?
So how does everyone here feel about the idea of a semi-tear down where the team looks to trade one or both of Framber/Tucker? I’m trying to open my mind to it. If they could get a top level prospect that could help this year plus another top level prospect that could help in 2026, that could really be a game changer for the future, especially with the money the team has coming off the books after this season.
Great idea – throw in Pena and Hunter in a blockbuster trade with the Yankees and become this decades version of the 50s Athletics.
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Semi-nauseous.
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No one is taking on that hamburger elbow for $35.4 million, much less giving up anyone worth getting, unless the Astros eat most/all of the salary. Might as well keep LMJ for his off-the-field contributions.
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With the right moves this team can still compete for championships. I’d look to trade Framber because I trust their ability to replace him with a cheaper pitcher for close to the same value. I have no faith in them replacing Tucker without it being a complete step back.
I know opinion about Framber and his worth is not super high around here but I think you could get quite a bit for him.
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He can mentor Jake on hair care.
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Of course. It’s not like I want to see either player traded, but I didn’t want to see Springer or Correa go either. I’m just trying to be open minded.
I was thinking same as you regarding the team’s ability to replace Framber. Regarding Tucker, you can’t replace him completely but he would command a prospect of his upside in return that could start helping the big league team in '25 or '26 and in the near term maybe you would have the money to sign a player like Santander.