DJL44

This doesn't even get into the massive tax advantages for billionaires if they can show a paper loss with their baseball team. It is one of the best tax shelters you can find.

MLB teams are making $60M a year just from the national broadcast television money. They get an additional $110M in pooled revenue sharing. That's $170M in guaranteed revenue without selling a single hot dog. Pooled revenue sharing represents 48% of the take which means the average team revenue is $230M plus the $60M in TV money for at least $290M. That's before you get into things like the windfall from the sale of MLBAM, licensing fees, "official BLANK of MLB" sponsorships, etc. MLB Teams Will Receive At Least $100 Million Annually From TV Rights Contracts (dodgerblue.com) MLB’s revenue sharing problem, and how to solve it - Bless You Boys The Orioles ran a $45M payroll last year which gives them at least $125M in profit. I'd say there are seven teams who would lose money if they had a payroll near the $233M luxury tax - Pirates, Reds, A's, Marlins, Rays, Guardians and Royals. Two of those teams went to the playoffs last year.

They have a potential All-Star starter sitting in the bullpen and he says he wants to be a starter. They would be stupid not to add two relievers. They have two roster slots that will open in Februrary when Canterino and Paddack are eligible to go on the 60 day IL. Megill and Moran both have options.

The Padres should have killed this myth. There are very few baseball teams that can't spend up to the luxury tax. There are 15-20 teams that would rather show a huge profit than spend the money available to them. Is the winner of the season the team with the trophy or the team with the largest profit? It depends on how you're keeping score. The revenue sharing formula is messed up. Teams that receive revenue sharing have negative incentives to increase their own local revenue. What you're seeing here are economic incentives in action. More revenue sharing without changing the formula will make the problem worse, not better. A hard salary cap just takes money away from the players and gives it to the owners. They need to share all national sources of revenue (broadcast rights, merchandising, licensing). These dollars exist because MLB exists. They need to stop sharing any revenue generated at the stadium (tickets, parking, concessions). This will incentivize teams to put a more entertaining product on the field. It will align the economic incentives with creating a better product for fans.

Show me where I complained that this article isn't free. FWIW - I've never read an article at the Athletic. If you put up a paywall I will find somewhere else to go.

I've said a few times that a business can make a lot of money off people under 40 if it is really easy to sign up online but you have to call on the phone to cancel the service. Gen Z HATES having to make an actual phone call.

I also listen on FM whenever possible. Coverage of FM stations tends to overlap with cell phone coverage. If you don't have either you're in AM radio territory. I think we have seen a gradual shift of the Twins to FM stations over the years but it is likely to move faster as electric cars gain in popularity over the next decade.

Then why are you whining about working so hard?

Those grapes are totally sour, I agree.

You are the one who decided to essentially go into the online newspaper business at a time of massive decline in that business. I don't pay for most online newspapers either. You can pay people to create in-depth content, but very few are paying for that elsewhere. People mostly just want a place to shoot the breeze with other fans. I'm not sure if people even read articles anymore, they just want to comment. For most Twins news you would be fine posting a headline and a paragraph long article.

Other teams would not spend more. They have no incentive to do so. A hard cap would mean player salaries are depressed and the cheapskate teams can get players cheaper.

Actually, they'll be getting an above average 3B. They're going to pay $50M this season to upgrade from Eduardo Escobar to Correa at 3B, That's only a 3-4 win upgrade. They're turning the best SS in baseball into the 5th best 3B.

Endorsement opportunities in NY will total a lot more than in MN. Correa was not interested in returning to this mediocre franchise with mediocre goals.

I come here mainly to shoot the breeze. I don't make any money following the Twins.

It should. Who wouldn't want Correa at a $65M discount?

Which assumes you have cell phone coverage everywhere you are driving.

On that list the players who get enough votes to be considered serious candidates are David Ortiz, Ben Taylor, Vic Willis, and Phil Rizzuto. Nobody else is likely to get elected any time soon. Top 12 unelected players in the last election: Lance Berkman, Buddy Bell, Thurman Munson, Sal Bando, Bobby Bonds, David Ortiz, Ben Taylor, Vic Willis, Bob Johnson, Tommy John, Wally Schang and Tim Hudson. We'll elect 3 more players this year. Carlos Beltran is a lock, then one of those top finishers from last year.

In a Future Filled With Electric Cars, AM Radio May Be Left Behind - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Most electric car manufacturers have removed support for AM radio rather than shielding the radio from the electromagnetic interference generated by electric motors. If radios aren't shielded from the electric motor the AM signal is unlistenable due to static. Many cities, but not all, have an alternate FM station to listen to but there are no clear channel superstations (like 830 in Minneapolis) on the FM dial. This could spell the end of Twins baseball on the AM dial very shortly. I'll often schedule a long trip to coincide with a Twins game so I have something to listen to in the car.

Here's the list of players in the Hall of Merit but not in the Hall of Fame Allen, Dick Clark, Will Hernandez, Keith McGwire, Mark Palmeiro, Rafael Start, Joe Stovey, Harry Barnes, Ross Childs, Cupid Grich, Bobby Randolph, Willie Whitaker, Lou Richardson, Hardy Boyer, Ken Evans, Darrell Groh, Heinie Hack, Stan Nettles, Graig Sutton, Ezra Beckwith, John Bennett, Charlie Freehan, Bill Trouppe, Quincy Edmonds, Jim Gore, George Hines, Paul Oms, Alejandro Pike, Lip Wynn, Jimmy McVey, Cal Bonds, Barry Jackson, Joe Jones, Charley Keller, Charlie Magee, Sherry Ramirez, Manny Sheckard, Jimmy Brown, Kevin Caruthers, Bob Clemens, Roger Cone, David Ferrell, Wes Pierce, Billy Reuschel, Rick Saberhagen, Bret Schilling, Curt Stieb, Dave Browning, Pete Evans, Dwight Sheffield, Gary Smith, Reggie Dahlen, Bill Glasscock, Jack Lundy, Dick Moore, Dobie Pearce, Dickey Rose, Pete Rolen, Scott Redding, Dick Tiant, Luis Jones, Andruw Helton, Todd Lofton, Kenny Santana, Johan Kent, Jeff Sosa, Sammy Pettitte, Andy Abreu, Bobby Rodriguez, Alex

Players are perpetually eligible so they could get elected in future elections. Here is the list of players who are in the Hall of Fame but not the Hall of Merit. Bottomley, Jim Cepeda, Orlando Chance, Frank Hodges, Gil Kelly, George McGriff, Fred Perez, Tony Taylor, Ben Evers, Johnny Lazzeri, Tony Mazeroski, Bill Schoendienst, Red Dandridge, Ray Johnson, Judy Kell, George Lindstrom, Freddy Traynor, Pie Ferrell, Rick Lombardi, Ernie Schalk, Ray Combs, Earle Duffy, Hugh Puckett, Kirby Waner, Lloyd Wilson, Hack Baines, Harold White, Sol Brock, Lou Hafey, Chick Manush, Heinie Bender, Chief Chesbro, Jack Cooper, Andy Day, Leon Dean, Dizzy Gomez, Lefty Grimes, Burleigh Haines, Jesse Hoffman, Trevor Hoyt, Waite Hunter, Catfish Joss, Addie Kaat, Jim Marquard, Rube Morris, Jack Pennock, Herb Smith, Hilton Smith, Lee Sutter, Bruce Welch, Mickey Willis, Vic Cuyler, Kiki Hooper, Harry Klein, Chuck McCarthy, Tommy Oliva, Tony Rice, Jim Rice, Sam Youngs, Ross Aparicio, Luis Bancroft, Dave Jackson, Travis Maranville, Rabbit Rizzuto, Phil Tinker, Joe

There is one more member of the 2020 Reds who is an ace pitcher and very available. I don't think the Twins should be interested in Trevor Bauer but he's very obtainable.

The Twins could use 2 more relief pitchers. They will have 2 spots on the roster open up when spring training starts - Paddack and Canterino. That means they will need to sign the pitchers to "minor league" deals that pay very well if they pitcher is added to the MLB roster. They shouldn't limit their search to pitchers who worked out of the bullpen last year. There are some 5th starters available who might do well if you put them into the bullpen. Here is an article that ranks the pitchers by their statcast stuff. Adam Ottavino is one of the better ones - he's playing in the WBC. Matt Moore and Aroldis Chapman also get mentioned. Here's another article showing what might be available on a minor league deal. Carlos Estevez and Chris Martin get mentioned there.

I don't think they have enough roster space to add $24M worth of relief pitchers to the payroll. That would be nearly a whole new bullpen.

I help run the Hall of Merit so I have a lot of opinions about this. Here's a link to the website Baseball Think Factory Hall Of Merit (krisgardner6.wixsite.com)

Only the Twins Hall of Fame. Still a pretty good ball to have.