Originally Posted by
JGordon
The problem is that only a few big-market teams can afford this, leading to a competitive advantage for teams in bigger markets and the virtual exclusion of small market teams from being long-term contenders. Even if a small market team makes it to the playoffs and on to the world series, they mostly do this with home-grown talent and their window of opportunity is very short, as all their good players will be snatched up by the yankees/sox/dodgers/etc.
The reason the Yanks are perpetual contenders is that they buy everyone else's players. I think their only major contributor that is home-grown is Jeter (who is awesome btw) -- all their others have been bought rather than developed.
The Yanks spent 35% more in '09 ($201.5 million) than the next highest payroll team (the Mets at $149.4 million), and
5.5 times as much as the lowest payroll team (Marlins $36.8 million). (
USA Today)
It's just frustrating for small market fans to see all their good players get bought up by the big guys. Not to mention the injuries -- the Rockies lose their best pitcher, they're screwed. The Yankees lose their best pitcher, they buy a new one.
Posada is home grown
Jeter is home grown
Joba Chamberlain is home grown
Melky Cabrera is home grown
Mariano Rivera is home grown
Andy Pettitte is home grown
Robinson Cano is home grown
Hideki Matsui is (semi) home grown
Phil Hughes is home grown
Brett Gardner is home grown
Regardless, MLB's revenue sharing platform results in tens of millions of dollars to small market teams (in some cases up to $60 Million annually), enough to pay for several big time players. Yankees annually pay close to $100 Million from their OWN revenue (ticket sales) to other teams.
Another example: In 2007, the Florida Marlins received over $60 Million in revenue sharing, yet had an opening day roster at around $45 Million. It's hard to feel bad for small market teams in scenarios like that. Frankly, small market teams are hesitant to take on big contracts not because they can't afford to, but because their owners don't want thinner profit margins.