Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Can you buy a World Series? What Mets can learn from the biggest spenders in MLB history [$]

ESPN Insider sub required.

1992 Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 96-66
Background: The Blue Jays had been contending for several years, reaching the American League Championship Series in 1985, 1989 and 1991, but they hadn’t yet reached a World Series. The opening of SkyDome midway through the 1989 season pushed the Jays to record-setting attendance figures, including more than 4 million in 1991. According to a report from Financial World magazine at the time, the Blue Jays earned nearly $18 million more in gate receipts than any other team. In response, longtime general manager Pat Gillick started spending on free agents, a departure for a franchise that had stressed player development.

What happened: Prior to the 1992 season, the team signed Dave Winfield and Jack Morris, and then it acquired David Cone in August to bolster the rotation for the playoff run. It worked: The Blue Jays won the World Series. “The Toronto Blue Jays paid big money to win big,” read The Associated Press story about their championship. It was true: When final payrolls were calculated, the Blue Jays topped the majors at $49.1 million. That was 57% higher than their 1991 figure of $31.3 million, and a 25% increase from 1991’s top payroll of $39.2 million—which belonged to the Oakland A’s. (The A’s had the second-highest payroll in 1992; it was a different era.)...

Lesson for the Mets: This can work—at least in the short term. After those two World Series titles, the Blue Jays got old in a hurry, falling to 55-60 in the strike-shortened 1994 season and then 56-88 in 1995. Gillick, seeing the handwriting on the wall, “retired” after 1994—only to resurface a year later with the Orioles. By 1996, the Blue Jays were in rebuilding mode; they dropped to 19th in payroll. While that won’t happen under Cohen, the Mets did have the third-oldest lineup in the majors in 2022 and the oldest pitching staff. With the addition of the 40-year-old Verlander, that group will be even older in 2023. The problems are most likely to surface in a couple of years, when Verlander and Scherzer might be gone (both are free agents after 2024) and the likes of Correa, Lindor and Nimmo will be drawing hefty salaries as they start declining in their 30s.

 

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 29, 2022 at 05:10 PM | 2 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: mets

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. John Northey Posted: January 01, 2023 at 04:21 PM (#6111546)
Makes sense - if you spend money you can push a team over the top which is near the top already. But as the 2010-present Yankees have shown spending money doesn't guarantee playoff success. Easier in the 2 round pre-1994 version of the playoffs to make it than the current system.
   2. Spivey Posted: January 02, 2023 at 10:03 AM (#6111574)
The owners are certainly trying to make the playoffs so that the answer is "no".

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

BBTF Partner

Dynasty League Baseball

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
phredbird
for his generous support.

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogForbes: For MLB, Las Vegas, And Oakland, The A’s Name And Brand Should Stay Put
(1 - 7:38am, Dec 01)
Last: Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc

NewsblogWho is on the 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot and what’s the induction process?
(275 - 11:07pm, Nov 30)
Last: Howie Menckel

Hall of MeritMock Hall of Fame 2024 Contemporary Baseball Ballot - Managers, Executives and Umpires
(20 - 10:37pm, Nov 30)
Last: Alex02

NewsblogOT - NBA Redux Thread for the End of 2023
(110 - 10:23pm, Nov 30)
Last: Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging

NewsblogReds, RHP Nick Martinez agree to $26M deal, sources say
(6 - 9:24pm, Nov 30)
Last: Walt Davis

NewsblogJackson Chourio extension: Brewers closing in on historic deal with MLB's No. 7 prospect, per report
(12 - 9:17pm, Nov 30)
Last: Adam Starblind

NewsblogOT Soccer - World Cup Final/European Leagues Start
(287 - 8:50pm, Nov 30)
Last: AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale

NewsblogSportsnet's Ben Wagner out as voice of Blue Jays radio broadcasts
(1 - 8:44pm, Nov 30)
Last: Walt Davis

NewsblogFormer Yankee Luis Severino agrees to 1-year, $13 million deal with Mets: reports
(20 - 8:22pm, Nov 30)
Last: Howie Menckel

NewsblogAndre Dawson Wants His Hall of Fame Cap Changed to the Cubs
(45 - 7:52pm, Nov 30)
Last: It's regretful that PASTE was able to get out

NewsblogZack Britton details analytics ‘rift’ that’s plaguing Yankees
(2 - 7:18pm, Nov 30)
Last: McCoy

NewsblogSource: Cardinals adding Sonny Gray to revamped rotation
(32 - 4:22pm, Nov 30)
Last: DCA

NewsblogReds add reliever Pagán on 2-year deal
(7 - 3:55pm, Nov 30)
Last: Walt Davis

NewsblogThe future of live sports TV reaches a tipping point
(52 - 2:14pm, Nov 30)
Last: Buck Coats

NewsblogOakland-area fans start Ballers, an independent baseball team
(15 - 12:45pm, Nov 30)
Last: Der-K's no Kliph Nesteroff.

Page rendered in 0.2009 seconds
48 querie(s) executed