The problem is that like Frank, his salary curve out-paced the market. Like Konerko, he signed a contract right before player values declined drastically. I think he'd like to stay, but he probably isn't worth $14 mil a year--and we won't know what he's worth until other major names sign this year. Until then, the question is: Does Maggs realize the salary curves have shifted to a lower level and will he be willing to take his $14 mil and renegotiate a long-term contract at a "market rate." So perhaps he takes $10 mil a year for the next five years but he defers a portion and doesn't actually take a pay cut for 2004, and at the same time helps the team acquire more talent.

 

IF he chooses to believe his next contract should be $14+ mil a year, I don't think he is living in reality and is getting bad advice from his agent. Simply put, other than Jim Thome, prices went down dramatically last year and until someone else makes $15-18 mil with a new contract, he isn't "worth" $14 mil.

 

That's just plain economic facts. Not baseball "I love this guy and I root for him" thinking...just business.

 

Forkit!

This is now a different conversation.

 

I don't recall if anyone had previously suggested that Magglio restructure his contract.

It was just a "trade Magglio for pitching" discussion.

If Ordonez is asked to, and refuses, then the discussion is entirely different.

The restructuring option is a lot better of an idea than just saying "get rid of him for pitching".

My philosphy all along has been if maggs is willing to restructure/resign then he stays, otherwise I'd ship him out.

 

I have felt for a while at 10 mill a year deal will be more then fair for him.

I don't think alot of us know exactly where JRs payroll restraints come from. Is it a self-imposed limit that he and the other holders created? Is it just the amount that they want to designate for baseball, and use their other finances for real estate, etc? We all know that JR has the money to field a high $$$ product on the field, but doesn't do it....

The reality of the situation is that they do have a payroll budget set, and they will work within the constraints of that budget. That is a cold hard fact. If Magglio would listen to a renegiation offer perhaps the Sox could offer him a $40 Mil, 4 year extension with $4Mil deferred over the 4 years of the extension. So, effectively, they'd be paying him $10M this year and $11M each of the next 4 years.

 

If that could be done, then yes, we should certainly keep Magglio. But $14Million this year, plus a potential loss to free agency at the end of the year, is just not fiscally sound for this particular White Sox team.

He's a great player. He's a fan favorite. He's a great hitter. He's a farm-grown product. He's a Chicago icon. He's a player due to make 14 million a year.

 

Sorry, Maggs, but we can spend your salary more wisely. If we can get a great package in return - Goodbye Maggs.

 

Sure, I don't want to get rid of him, but many a team has been reluctant to get rid of their stars. Seattle was - and they still win year after year after getting rid of their overpriced stars.

It's not how much you spend - it's how you spend it.

Players don't restructure their contracts to help management avoid spending money they have. Why would they? loyalty? Loyalty doesn't pay the bills. If a pitcher blows out his arm in his option year, will management reward his loyalty with a long term contract? No. Just ask Lieber or Sirotka or all the others. This is a business and Magglio will be advised, correctly, by his people to play out his option if the Sox don't pay market value. And market value is one dollar more than he's making right now, until someone comes in with a two dollar raise. And why would he want to stay here? The weather? The owner? Please.

It's not how much you spend - it's how you spend it.

exactly....great post

See Paul Karyia

Sorry, I should have said "Baseball players".

See Paul Karyia

Except Paul Kariya didn't resctructure his contract. He signed a new contract with Colorado.

MY point Southside is that Paul could have signed for 8 mil a season with the Ducks. Instead, he wanted to go to a place he thought he could win, and now makes just over a 1 Mil. That shows to me money doesnt mean everything, and that a guy sometimes wants to do something that doesnt have to do with money. If Maggs really loves the team, he could take away 3 mil.

A lot of players take paycuts to go somewhere that they want to be. There are lots of players who take a hometown discount or less money to win a ring. But for some reason, I don't ever remember seeing someone restructure their contract in MLB. Am I missing anything?

I don't think alot of us know exactly where JRs payroll restraints come from.

People "in-the-know" have discussed this here before. The problem with JR is not whether or not he has the money. The problem is that he runs the White Sox to make a profit first and win a WS second. When a WS takes a second seat to $$$$$, you can practically count on JR NOT making the big deals that put this team over the hump.

There isnt a owner in Chicago that is not like that.

True. But there are owners in all 4 of the major sports leagues that put Championships before $$$$$ when appropriate. Chicago has none of those types of owners but that doesn't mean Chicago sports fans should accept it. JR, whether in it to make money or win championships, has no reason..... NO REASON..... to not have paid for and fielded a team that made it to the WS at least once in his 20+ years of ownership. And the one year that we had our best shot of seeing the White Sox in the World Series, our illustrious owner saw fit to lead the owners through The '94 Strike.

 

I'll never forgive JR for that one.

True. But there are owners in all 4 of the major sports leagues that put Championships before $$$$$ when appropriate. Chicago has none of those types of owners but that doesn't mean Chicago sports fans should accept it. JR, whether in it to make money or win championships, has no reason..... NO REASON..... to not have paid for and fielded a team that made it to the WS at least once in his 20+ years of ownership. And the one year that we had our best shot of seeing the White Sox in the World Series, our illustrious owner saw fit to lead the owners through The '94 Strike.

 

I'll never forgive JR for that one.

How can anyone hope to win a debate with you on this subject? You're point has absolutely not even the first hint of a hole.