Okay, I know the Yankees have been doing this for a while. And, I know they haven't won a World Series in a while (for them, at least). And I know, also, that a lot of payroll came off the books for the Bronx Bombers this offseason.

 

But even with all that considered, this kind of situation sucks the fun out of things to a pretty decent degree. If they win this year, it's not because they made any shrewd moves recently - just went out and outbid everyone else for the top 2 pitchers (maybe D. Lowe is more sought after, but that's arguable) and the top position player.

 

It's like one of those old video games where you can just turn off both the salary cap and CPU intelligence. Yes, they need to justify charging $2,500 for a seat at the new stadium, and I'm aware that they still make a profit. But it's just a big turn-off to me.

 

And I can't even imagine how Washington Nationals fans feel. They have a kid from their area, they make an outstanding offer, and yet the Yankees swoop in seemingly at the last minute and make an offer that blows everyone else out of the water.

 

Still, this luxury tax deal is stupid. Each organization is a subsidiary of a larger business, AKA Major League Baseball, and each should have the right to spend as much money as they feel will make them most profitable (or whatever else their goals might be - possibly to win a championship, but almost assuredly the overarching goal is $$$). The only way you could justify it is as some sort of franchising fee, but considering the Yankees are the only ones who pay it, that doesn't fly.......

 

On the other hand, these clubs couldn't operate without Major League Baseball. So MLB can do what it pleases to maximize its profits, and each of the clubs must adjust themselves. (I'm not sure of what happens to that luxury tax - does it go into the revenue sharing fund?) And that's why I think revenue sharing is all right, and if the luxury tax money goes there, then it's not so bad. If someone with more knowledge about how the relevant figures are derived and where the relevant $$$ end up could enlighten me/us, that would be helpful.

 

Utlimately, I haven't come up with some grand solution to what I feel is a problem, but I know that it does indeed bother me how just one out the 30 teams captures arguably the top 3 free agents, and definitely 3/5, while already having a roster sporting the salaries and talents of A-Rod, Jeter + more. I would hope this thread could spark some insightful commentary, possible proposals to mollify or eliminate some of these issues, and maybe just make me a bit less bitter (about the state of baseball, not necessarily the Yanks). :thumbup

Maybe other teams should start spending? Look at our very team the florida marlins. They dont do sh*t in free agency and trade away all their expensive players. Maybe if we had a spending floor MLB would be in better shape.

 

You really cant get mad at the yankees. They make a lot of money, but they put most of it back into their payroll/team. A lot of other teams are happing turning a profit.

Maybe other teams should start spending? Look at our very team the florida marlins. They dont do sh*t in free agency and trade away all their expensive players. Maybe if we had a spending floor MLB would be in better shape.

 

You really cant get mad at the yankees. They make a lot of money, but they put most of it back into their payroll/team. A lot of other teams are happing turning a profit.

 

That wouldn't be the best idea - if a team hits the wall and has to go to rebuilding mode, a salary floor will force that team to give out irresponsible contracts, just to make that floor... yay middling FAs making way more than they should