January 29, 200521 yr PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh's Kevin McClatchy lashed out at other baseball owners Friday for a return of free-agent spending that he fears may steer some clubs close to bankruptcy. McClatchy, the Pirates' managing general partner, warned of a growing division between big-payroll and small-market clubs that could lead to contentious owners meetings and a much harder stance during the next labor negotiations. The current labor deal with players runs until December 2006. "I don't know what happened, maybe they drank some funny water, but they all decided they were back on the binge," McClatchy said. "When somebody goes out and pays an average pitcher $7 million a year, then anybody who's an average pitcher says they need $7 million a year. That's very difficult, and when you're giving pitchers $18 million in arbitration, that also makes it difficult." NL Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens agreed to an $18 million, one-year contract with Houston, a record one-year salary for a pitcher and the equivalent of nearly half the Pirates' projected $40 million payroll. The Pirates' payroll is about $10 million less than that of the Washington Nationals, owned by the other major-league clubs. Some teams criticized the New York Mets for giving a $22.5 million, three-year contract to former-Pirate Kris Benson, then for giving Pedro Martinez a $53 million, four-year contract and Carlos Beltran a $119 million, seven-year deal. "I don't know about the bank vault being open," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said Friday. "We competed for Pedro and for Beltran with other clubs that were right there where we were and pretty much ended up paying." The Pirates' payroll is about $10 million less than that of the Washington Nationals, owned by the other major league clubs. After two offseasons with relatively few huge contracts, McClatchy was admittedly stunned with what he called a series of signings that were "ridiculous -- at best." McClatchy's sharp talk mirrors that of the Orioles' Peter Angelos, who said first baseman Carlos Delgado's $52 million contract with Florida reflects baseball's "fiscal insanity." McClatchy also questions how teams that only recently were talking about financial stress agreed to huge contracts. Arizona signed pitcher Russ Ortiz for $33 million and third baseman Troy Glaus for $45 million, both over four years. "What you don't want to see is some of these teams spend themselves into bankruptcy -- that's not good for any of the league, that becomes a liability on all of us," McClatchy said. "I'm not sure if some of these people are writing checks with money they necessarily have, and that's a negative thing. "You wonder how, since they were in a tough financial spot, some of the spending is going to work, how they're eventually going to be able to pay their bills. When you're drawing 1.7 million, and you take your payroll up too high, you just do the math," he said. The Pirates, by contrast, have signed no free agents to major-league contracts and have handed out only two multiyear contracts -- shortstop Jack Wilson's $8 million, two-year deal and right-hander reliever Salomon Torres' $2.6 million, two-year deal. McClatchy is rooting for NHL owners to reach a labor agreement that includes a cap or some other harsh salary restraint, something he said baseball badly needs. "I'm disappointed, very disappointed in the other owners, and I think as we go toward a new collective bargaining agreement, there's going to have to be some sort of constraint put on because these other guys can't control themselves," he said. McClatchy, who serves on baseball's executive council and long-range labor committee, is promising to be more outspoken in future owners meetings. "I've think they've created a hawk," he said. "A lot of us are concerned and are definitely going to speak up." Despite McClatchy's glum financial talk and the Pirates' 12th consecutive losing season in 2004, the team's annual Fanfest opened Friday to what was expected to be record crowds. Attendance was way up during the first week of the team's winter caravan, which featured Wilson and promising pitcher Oliver Perez. Season ticket sales are up about 30 percent, partly because buyers who keep their seats the following season get the opportunity to buy 2006 All-Star tickets. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1978076
January 29, 200521 yr didnt this a-hole just get a new stadium? Why dont you actualy invest in your team.
January 29, 200521 yr Maybe 'cause he doesn't have the money? Plus, he's just a majority owner (51%).
January 29, 200521 yr Shut your trap cakeb*tch. I'm sure if your team got Delgado at whatever price you wouldn't call it fiscal insanity.
January 29, 200521 yr he and angelos are right...something seriously needs to be done about spending. this is not in any small market team's best interests. "What you don't want to see is some of these teams spend themselves into bankruptcy -- that's not good for any of the league, that becomes a liability on all of us," McClatchy said. "I'm not sure if some of these people are writing checks with money they necessarily have, and that's a negative thing. "You wonder how, since they were in a tough financial spot, some of the spending is going to work, how they're eventually going to be able to pay their bills. When you're drawing 1.7 million, and you take your payroll up too high, you just do the math," he said. by the way, he's referring to us.
January 29, 200521 yr Maybe if he cared about winning and would open up his wallet from time to time, he too would realize that you have to spend a little bit of money to compete. Plus they have a source of revenue that other teams (the 2003 WS Champions Marlins) don't have. So if someone could play the smallest violin in the world for him, I would greatly appreciate it.
January 30, 200521 yr He needs to stop bitching and moaning and start spending cash. He must have forgot people come to games when you effort in improving your team and winning. After all the Pirates haven't been any good for the last decade.
January 30, 200521 yr 12 straight losing seasons and a $40 million dollar payroll and then he wonders why more people aren't coming out to see the Pirates. :plain New stadiums don't do a damn thing for you unless you field a competitive team to play in it.
January 30, 200521 yr 12 straight losing seasons and a $40 million dollar payroll and then he wonders why more people aren't coming out to see the Pirates. :plain New stadiums don't do a damn thing for you unless you field a competitive team to play in it. 672374[/snapback] hmm, 12 straight losing seasons. YOu know what that coincides with? The Pirates (not sure if he owned the team back then) drove God out of town, and still haven't recovered.
January 30, 200521 yr The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort.
January 30, 200521 yr The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists.
January 30, 200521 yr The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. 672478[/snapback] Q: What are the two differences between a 5 year old and Barry Bonds? A: Barry has a higher voice and smaller balls.
January 30, 200521 yr 12 straight losing seasons and a $40 million dollar payroll and then he wonders why more people aren't coming out to see the Pirates. :plain New stadiums don't do a damn thing for you unless you field a competitive team to play in it. 672374[/snapback] I bet that new [publically-funded] stadium is filling his wallet.
January 30, 200521 yr The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. 672478[/snapback] Get out of here with that nonesense. When you die, ain't gonna be Barry waiting for you at the Pearly Gates. Barry could honestly give a crap less who you are. Oh, and btw, it a well known FACT that Jesus existed.
January 30, 200521 yr Treating some athlete who took steriods to hit homeruns like God is a certain sign of patheticness.
January 30, 200521 yr The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. 672478[/snapback] Q: What are the two differences between a 5 year old and Barry Bonds? A: Barry has a higher voice and smaller balls. 672485[/snapback] LOL
January 30, 200521 yr The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. 672478[/snapback] Q: What are the two differences between a 5 year old and Barry Bonds? A: Barry has a higher voice and smaller balls. 672485[/snapback] lmao
January 30, 200521 yr He needs to stop bitching and moaning and start spending cash. He must have forgot people come to games when you effort in improving your team and winning. After all the Pirates haven't been any good for the last decade. 672372[/snapback] They havent been any good since McKeon left there And I support a cap you look at the Yanks with over 200 million I mean there luxury tax they had to pay to MLB was more than the DRays entire salary How F'ed up is that I mean and you look at the Sox with over 130,000,000 how crazy is this something needs to be done about this crazy spending and fast
January 30, 200521 yr He needs to stop bitching and moaning and start spending cash. He must have forgot people come to games when you effort in improving your team and winning. After all the Pirates haven't been any good for the last decade. 672372[/snapback] They havent been any good since McKeon left there And I support a cap you look at the Yanks with over 200 million I mean there luxury tax they had to pay to MLB was more than the DRays entire salary How F'ed up is that I mean and you look at the Sox with over 130,000,000 how crazy is this something needs to be done about this crazy spending and fast 672770[/snapback] learn to use punctuation, it makes your posts a lot easier to read. I don't think a salary cap would be good for baseball.
January 30, 200521 yr Learn to use punctuation, it makes your posts a lot easier to read. I don't think a salary cap would be good for baseball. 672806[/snapback]
January 31, 200521 yr free agent spending isn't a problem. if you have the money to spend, then spend it. the marlins don't really have $52 million for delgado, it's deferred over meny many years, but if you don't try to get a winning club, then you won't get a winning club, stadium or not.
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