How Much is a World Championship Worth?

by oaklandfan40 on Nov 13, 2008 10:51 AM PST Comment 12 comments

IF I could convince you that you could buy at least one World Championship and possibly two more for $500M dollars what would you say? Before you answer, consider that the Yankees, Mets, Angels, Cubs, Dodgers and Mariners have all spend more over the last five years without winning a single one. Consider that the A’s have spent at least that over the last 20 years with only one title to show for it. And lastly, consider that last year the combined 30 MLB teams spent around $2.6 BILLION dollars in payroll; an average of $86M per team.

So, for $500M would you buy a Championship with the opportunity to get two more?

Because, for less than $500M I think you could get this team for the next three seasons and afterwards you’d still have one of the league’s best pitching staffs and Teixeira to rebuild your offense around.

2009 -2011 Line Up

SS Furcal 5yrs/$75M (there’s no FA SS other than him in sight)

DH Cust 3yrs/10M

LF Holiday 1/14M (replaced by Cunningham/Buck for 10-11)

1B Teixeira 3/70M (7/165M total)

RF Ordonez (3yrs/48M), Dye (2yrs 23.5M) via trade or FAs Manny (3/70M) or Dunn (4/60M)

3B Chavez 2/22M (replace or resign A LOT CHEAPER for ’11)

C Suzuki 3/5M

CF Sweeney 3/5M

2B Ellis 2/11M (resign or replace in ’11)

The best 2-5 combination of hitters in the league

Starters

CC 3/60M (6/130M total)

Peavy 5/78M under current contract (acquired for Gonzalez, Cahill or Anderson and whoever…I think SD would have to take that deal but since this would have to be your next move, I don’t know if Peavy would accept a trade here)

Duke 3/10M

Gallagher 3/5M

Eveland 3/5M

(with Cahill/Anderson taking the spot of the weakest link or replacing Duke if he goes)

The best 1-3 starters in the league

Now I know that you know that I know that this will never happen and I know that you think this team like all other overpriced teams aren’t guaranteed anything, but with the Holiday trade and internet talk of the A’s actually spending some green and gold this off season I thought it’d be fun to think outside the which-one-of-these-40-prospects-do-we-think-might-maybe-hopefullly-will-turn-into-an-above-average-mlb-player box.

Plus I’ve been trying to do some Christmas shopping on line and am in a buyers mood. Now would be the perfect time to have money to spend on baseball with so many true championship quality players available.

So, my question remains, how much is a World Title worth to you?

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Have the A's really spent the least in the last 20 years?

As I recall, the Florida Marlins tend to have low payrolls, and they have 2.

…. but only in the last 15ish years or so.

by Jack Cust is valuable damnit on Nov 13, 2008 10:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oh also..

The sheer number of big-name FA signings make this idea more than a little ridiculous. What are the chances of the A’s getting even half the guys you’re proposing, and what’s the point? Why go into “rebuilding” mode only to sign 6-7 expensive free agents the next year? I’m not certain the A’s are willing to give up the trade chips necessary to pull in a Dye or Ordonez.

by Jack Cust is valuable damnit on Nov 13, 2008 10:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Good god

We acquire one big name player and suddenly people start dreaming that we’re the Yankees.

"We were s--, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."

by lenscrafters on Nov 13, 2008 11:31 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Not so true about Furcal

SS Furcal 5yrs/$75M (there’s no FA SS other than him in sight)

He’s, apparently, no longer the only option. According to Rotoworld:

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s are “likely to pursue” Edgar Renteria if Rafael Furcal proves too expensive.

699 OPS last season? Detroit declining his option? Don’t know how I feel about that.

Plus when did the A’s intentions ever become this transparent?

by noava22 on Nov 13, 2008 11:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Furcal had a back injury this year. Not sure I want to invest into an expensive long DL stay again.

Yes he may produce for all 3 or 5 years that you are going to sign him for but that is a big roll of the dice. Also from what I have read from others here I don’t think Renteria is someone we want.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Nov 13, 2008 12:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agh

realistically, what do people think Furcal is going to get?

by jdr on Nov 13, 2008 5:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

$64m/4

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 14, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Chavez

Why to we have to resort to calling Chavez a cheater?

by Eggman on Nov 13, 2008 11:51 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Because he's been cheating

the A’s out of their money and the fans out of seeing him play for so long I can’t even spell cheaper withouth thinking how cheated I feel to have him on the team.

"Baseball is like a church. Many attend, but few understand." - Wes Westrum

by oaklandfan40 on Nov 13, 2008 12:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This sounds more like the Detroit Tigers circa last year...

lower payroll goes to bigger payroll (of course via trade with Florida, and not so much FA). Look how that worked out for them…I WISH we were the Yankees, but we aren’t, and if Maggs gets hurt or Dye shows his age or Manny shows his age, Furcal is still injury prone, Duke is injured, we are screwed sauce. I’ll take a good mix of young farm talent, a few shrewd signings, and a shrewd trade any day, rather than going solely on the proven talent and expensive track.

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 13, 2008 12:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

put it this way

I would, without question, give up women for a year if it meant a ring for the A’s. That’s how much it means to me.

by MaineAthletic on Nov 13, 2008 8:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I would too

Goats, I’m not so sure, but women definitely.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 14, 2008 6:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs