If I’d stayed at the firm I’d be making more than double what I make now. All about the happiness for me, I make enough to feel secure, that’s all that matters for the salary.
That said, the “greed” thing cuts every whichway in professional sports. The player who wants top dollar is greedy, a team that won’t pay market rates is greedy, I don’t really give a damn about that side of it. If I don’t consider Jose Abreu greedy for spurning the White Sox (who made him a “respectful offer”, in his words) and signing with the Astros, I don’t consider Bregman greedy for the doing the same thing the other direction. It’s fine. I just want a team that plays hard and wins.
We do this every year coach, I respect somebody taking less to stay in a good situation. I also respect somebody getting the most money they can. For me, I’m happy where I am and it would take a major pay bump for me to leave, but there is a number. I’ll never hold it against anybody for “chasing the money” if the player doesn’t get it, it just goes into the even richer owners pocket. Every person has to make the decision for themselves and what they feel is best for their family. For athletes the gravy train stops rolling im their mid to late 30s and I absolutely understand milking it for all its worth, establishing generational wealth for your kids and their kids.
Let’s all remember the most important thing: Jon Singleton, who signed a long-term contract to stay in Houston before he’d ever played a game here, is the most loyal player in Astros history
Two people from whom you can always ignore public statements: an agent whose player got spurned by a team, and a GM whose team got spurned by a player.
Life’s too short to worry
Life’s too long to wait
It’s too short not to love everybody
And life’s too long to hate
A lotta people haggle, finagle all the time
Try to save a nickle just to make a dime
Not me, boy nosiree
I ain’t got the time
We all make decisions based on opportunities and our own personal drivers. I certainly could have made a lot more money being “global mobile”, but Kim and I decided that’s not what we wanted to do. I work with a lot of people who have, and most have loved it, and that lifestyle isn’t just for the money, there are a lot of other personal experiences that go with it that draw people to it. Great for them, just wasn’t for us. Of course, the offer wasn’t $26 million/year, and I’m sure there was a price high enough to change our minds. Everything is a trade off. Again, I don’t begrudge any player for getting theirs, nor do I think less of any of them because the highest salary is their goal. The Astros are my team and I will root for whomever they trot out there, even when I’m critical of them. If Bregman, or anyone else, leaves I’ll say “thanks for your contributions, I hope you get your shit kicked in when you play the Astros”. But no hard feelings. Unless you wear a Team Boras hat in a post-game interview. Then you’re an Hall of Fame asshole.
Alex fucked around and found out. The Astros had to make plans for the future. They gave him the opportunity to be a part of the future. $26 million dollars a year for 6 years wasn’t enough for Alex. Now let’s see how much less he settles for. I have no hopes or expectations regarding his future performances. If he is not an Astro, he’s just another guy on another team.
Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Blessed Saturnalia. Festive Festivus. Glorious Yule. All the best to you astros addicts and denizens of the void. May the baseball gods and all the rest bless and keep you well.
Fuck the cubs.
