You don't get prospects from player to be named later deals.
Deal is nothing more then a salary dump, as LaRoche is set to become a free agent next year, and the Pirates have no intentions of keeping him.
MLB needs to do one of two things, either seriously restructure the revenue sharing system they have, or fold teams like the Pirates and Nationals because they clearly cannot compete on a regular basis.
Also the Nationals seem to have no intention of actually signing Stephen Strasburg as he will likely be forced to enter next year's draft if a deal cannot be reached by August 17th.
The Nationals will once again hold the number pick in next years draft, and will also get the #2 pick if they do not sign Strasburg this year.
Right now Pittsburgh and Washington are two teams that seemed to be on a road to nowhere with no signs that things are going to change anytime soon.
They got some good talent there still. You can't say they don't. They got two kids who were in Double A from the Sox for Laroche. As for the Nats i don't think they'll do anything but lose in the coming future. Now if somehow they stitch up a deal with Strausburg then they have a soild pitcher
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I believe in Family, I believe in Country, I believe in NASCAR
That is a joke? Right? No? Ok, let's be real, they don't have good talent. That's why they well on their way to their 17th straight losing season. SEVENTEEN!! Not a single season above .500 in 17 years kinda proves that your franchise has no idea what the hell it is doing.
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The Cubbies got me, got me questioning, where are the runs??
Well if ownership doesn't want to pay salaries then sell the team to someone who does....KC is a small market team but they at least try to be competative. Same can be said for Tampa, Milwaukee, and Oakland.
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Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.
Here's the thing though, the financial incentive to win in sports is virtually zero.
How much revenue you bring in is pretty well set before the season even begins.
The only time when winning can bring in new revenue opportunities is if you win the World Series.
But for most teams at least financially it makes no difference whether they win 70 games or 88 games.
Your market size, and television contract have much more say over how much money you make then your on field performance does.
The only way your going to solve these small market blues is to either bring in a salary cap, or find a way to make winning financially viable. The salary cap option in my opinion would be much easier.
I recommend to read my Gary Sheffield page under the top 100 if you want a good oversight into how sports business really works, and why owners really own sports teams.
Very few owners are willing to risk taking a hit financially in order to win.
