With the New York media reporting that agent Scott Boras told the Yankees the opening bid for A-Rod's services was $350 million, I couldn't help wondering what you could buy for that kind of money. Even in the inflated world of baseball, it turns out to be a lot. Here, based upon 2007 opening day payrolls as reported by USA Today, is what $350 million will buy, not in terms of free agents but in terms of entire playoff team payrolls:
- 6.5 years for the Diamondbacks or Rockies
- 5.7 years of the Indians
- 3.9 years of Phillies
- 3.5 years Cubs
- 3.3 years of the Diamonbacks AND Rockies
- 3.2 years of the Angels
- 2.5 years of Red Sox
- 1.9 years of the Yankees
Or one year of the Diamondbacks, Rockies, Indians, Phillies and Cubs! Actually the total comes out to $357 million but, with that roster, surely you cold dump one salary and still field a competitive team.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I just don’t see any team giving him that kind of money. There’s no doubt he’s an amazing player and I’d love for the Cardinals to sign him and put him behind Pujols in the batting order (please wait a moment, I need to wipe the drool off my chin) but are you really a better team by tying up a third of your payroll in one player? I mean what if he gets hurt? People complain about injuries hurting a team, imagine if a third of your players went down all at the same time!
There are a very few teams that can afford to pay $-Rod while not selling off any and all viable players to foot the bill.
A-Rod’s great. He’s greater with a decent lineup around him.