QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Feb 24, 2011 -> 07:59 AM)
The issue isn't the amount of money as it's relative. The issue is competitive balance. Eventually, MLB is going to lose major fan bases. There's no incentive for kids in over half of the markets to follow their team. People in Pittsburgh, KC, Baltimore, Cleveland etc. won't continue to follow teams that have no chance. That will hurt MLB overall.
Yet the Cubs draw great crowds year after year. How are they any different than KC or Baltimore? There is even another team in the Cubs' market that does field a challenger almost every year.
Even since free agency got started decades ago people have been predicting this. Eventually, maybe it will happen.