A Million Here, A Million There

 There are stupid sportswriters and lazy sportswriters.  Oh, and stupid, lazy sportswriters, too.  In today’s Sun-Times, a columnist commented on free-agent pitcher David Price getting away from the Cubs.  Why not spend the bucks? he wondered.  “There’s no salary cap (though there is a luxury tax), so why should you, a fan, care?”

Well, let’s consider that sentence two paragraphs down, the one that says, “The Cubs had the third-highest average ticket price in baseball last season, and prices will go up significantly in 2016.”  Price signed a seven-year deal with the Red Sox for $217 million (with an opt-out after year three, so that $217 million figure is more a floor than a ceiling).  Last year, the team signed Jon Lester for $155 million.  Connect the dots, and you come up with a $20 hotdog at the concession stand, with relish extra.

Committing $372 million to two pitchers is tempting the baseball gods to throw a sore arm or elbow your way.  As it is, Price’s contract effects all of baseball as the new benchmark; everybody and his agent will want a deal that comes close.  Eventually, it effects arbitration: This is what a really good pitcher makes, and this guy here came out of the woodwork to have a great year, so….If the Cubs had signed Price, they’d have precious little flexibility to pursue other deals.  No, wait, the columnist says the Ricketts are “a billionaire family,” so they can just open up their wallets.  Now, tell me how many owners try to act like George Steinbrenner and how many like George Halas?  If the Ricketts decide to spend, trust me, fans will pay.