Las Vegas is an odd place to hold Major League Baseball’s winter meetings. In this town, people discard money as freely as used tissue. Yet, at the time of this posting, none of the top-tier free agents have been paid. CC Sabathia is still waiting. So are Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, Francisco Rodriguez and A.J. Burnett.
But I guess that’s why we’re here.
The feeling around baseball seems to one of belt-tightening due to the nose-diving economy. Revenue streams, like corporate sponsorships, are drying up. Teams are cutting staff.
The off-season has not been kind to the Blue Jays. They shaved about thirty employees from their payroll the day owner Ted Rogers passed away. On the final day of the season, an American dollar cost about $1.05 Canadian; now it’s around $1.30. Clearly, the Jays won’t be buyers in Las Vegas.
Realistically, losing Burnett to free agency may be a financial necessity. But if they cannot afford to re-sign him, they certainly won’t be in the running for a pitcher (like Derek Lowe) of similar capability. That leaves Roy Halladay as the opening day starter, followed by a whole lot of uncertainty. At the very least, by offering Burnett arbitration (which he politely declined), the Blue Jays will get two compensatory draft choice if he signs elsewhere.
As for the high-revenue teams, we’ve been assured one of them will win Sabathia’s services with a contract over $100 million. Ditto for Teixeira. Or, has baseball hit a period of economic restraint?
You tell me.
