Jan 22, 10:17 AM EST Newsletter Signup BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureOpinionSportsLuxury Sports By Anthony Riccobono @tony_riccobono 01/22/19 AT 10:11 AM The idea that a “mystery team” could sign Manny Machado seems more and more realistic the longer the infielder’s free agency lasts. The superstar met with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox a month ago, but there is a rumor that another organization has made him the most lucrative offer.There are plenty of guesses as to which team might be going after Machado, though we might be able to cross one possibility off the list.According to Fancred’s Jon Heyman, the Pittsburgh Pirates are not attempting to acquire the 26-year-old. Heyman dispelled rumors that Pittsburgh might trade Starling Marte to the Los Angeles Dodgers and try to sign Machado.There are no legs to the Pirates rumors today. They are not trading Starling Marte to the Dodgers, and they are NOT … [Read more...] about Manny Machado Rumors: Pittsburgh Pirates Not A Mystery Team For MLB Free Agent
Team payrolls mlb
The Yasmani Grandal signing shows why the Brewers might be the most opportunistic team in MLB these days
The signing is just another case of the Brewers pouncing on the moment conditions turn in their favor by Jonah Keri @jonahkeri 1m ago • 8 min read The Milwaukee Brewers struck a one-year, $18.25 million deal with All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal, filling one of the team's biggest needs and cementing the Brewers' status as arguably the most opportunistic team in the majors over the past couple years.Despite reports that the Mets offered him a four-year deal worth more than $50 million, there are multiple factors which could help you understand why Grandal couldn't find any other takers anywhere near that universe of bidding. It starts with the qualifying offer tendered to Grandal by the Dodgers, which would automatically force the team signing the veteran catcher to give up a high draft pick to acquire his services. That qualifying-offer system is one of many subtle ways in which teams have successfully tamped down player salaries in recent … [Read more...] about The Yasmani Grandal signing shows why the Brewers might be the most opportunistic team in MLB these days
MLB payrolls drop for 1st time since 2010
Associated Press Updated 8:25 pm PST, Tuesday, January 8, 2019 Spending on Major League Baseball payrolls dropped last season for the first time since 2010, an $18 million decrease attributable to drug and domestic-violence suspensions and a player retiring at midseason. Still, even a year with flat payrolls is unusual for MLB. The only previous drops since 2002 were by $3 million in 2010 and by $32 million in 2004. Teams combined to spend $4.23 billion on major-league payroll last year, according to figures compiled by the commissioner’s office. The decrease followed an offseason with a weak free-agent class that failed to push the average higher. Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano lost about $11.7 million and Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo approximately $3.5 million after positive drug tests. Closer Roberto Osuna’s domestic-violence suspension cost him roughly $2.1 million from Toronto and Houston, and Baltimore outfielder Colby Rasmus … [Read more...] about MLB payrolls drop for 1st time since 2010
The average MLB salary dropped in 2018 for only the fourth time in the last 50 years
It's the first time the average salary dropped since 2014 by Mike Axisa @mikeaxisa moments ago • 3 min read By all accounts, the MLB Players Association is gearing up for a significant labor fight when the current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2021. And when you read reports like this, it is easy to understand why.According to the Associated Press, the average MLB salary decreased from 2017-18. It's only the fourth time in the last half-century the average salary decreased from one year to the next. Here are the details:The union said Friday its final average was $4,095,686, down $1,436 from $4,097,122 last year.Since the union started keeping track in 1967, the only previous declines had been by $66 in 1987, when owners were found to have conspired to hold down salaries among free agents; a 4 percent decline in 1995 following a 7½-month strike that wiped out the World Series for the first time since 1904; and by 2.5 percent … [Read more...] about The average MLB salary dropped in 2018 for only the fourth time in the last 50 years
The Latest: Champion Red Sox not looking to cut top payroll
LAS VEGAS -- The Latest on Major League Baseball's winter meetings (all times local): 4:04 p.m. The big-budget Boston Red Sox aren't looking to cut payroll after winning the World Series.Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is dismissing reports that he's trying to trade some high-priced players, such as pitcher Rick Porcello."We're not looking to move anybody. We're not driven to move anybody," he said.The Red Sox had the highest payroll in the majors for the first time in the free agent era. It was nearly $239 million in late August on Boston's way to a team-record 108 wins in the regular season.Dombrowski says he thinks the team payroll will be over $246 million next year.___3:55 p.m.The Oakland Athletics have reached agreement with catcher Chris Herrmann on a $1 million, one-year contract.General manager David Forst had put getting a catcher among his top to-do items, and the A's found one at the winter meetings.The 31-year-old Herrmann played 36 games for … [Read more...] about The Latest: Champion Red Sox not looking to cut top payroll