Can’t the White Sox at least be the Brewers?

[caulfield12]

“If you ranked MLB teams by market size, the Pirates would be above the Orioles and Royals. The Brewers are in the smallest market in baseball (until the A's land in Las Vegas, where I'm sure owner John Fisher will start spending lavishly).

Anyway, the Brewers have been a very successful franchise lately. They are going to make the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons (actually 7/8 now).  They might even win the World Series this season. They extended Ryan Braun (twice, technically) during a career that saw him win MVP and help the Brewers snap a long playoff drought. They also gave Christian Yelich a long-term extension after his MVP season more recently.

Yelich's extension was nine years and $215 million. The biggest deal in Pirates' history is Bryan Reynolds' eight-year, $106.75 million. 

In the last 10 years (we could go back further and it doesn't improve), the Pirates haven't ranked higher than 20th in player payroll. They haven't been higher than 27th since 2017, though. Since then, it goes 28th, 30th, 30th, 28th, 27th, 29th. In that same timeframe, the Brewers -- again, keep in mind they are the smallest-market team in MLB -- go 26th, 17th, 22nd, 22nd, 19th, 19th, 20th, 22nd. 

The point, Pirates fans, is that it doesn't have to be this bad. It's Nutting, not the lack of a salary cap. I suppose you can argue that it's both, but the ownership being cheap part is the main problem. Again, look at the success of the Brewers. Or the Guardians. Or the Royals. Or the A's before the owner decided he was the real life embodiment of Rachel Phelps.”

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/snyders-soapbox-on-good-owners-bad-owners-and-why-mlb-fans-should-always-root-for-teams-to-spend-more-money/

 

It should be noted the Brewers have lost GM Stearns, Counsell, Hader, Adames and Devin Williams and are picked behind the Cubs by almost everyone for 2025.

23rd highest payroll, $108 million

Pirates are the 26th highest payroll and picked by many to be third or fourth in the NL Central, @ a $82.2 million payroll

Edited February 9 by caulfield12

[Y2Jimmy0]

It all comes down to developing players. The Brewers have perks that the White Sox will never get though. They get extra international space, they get an extra draft pick to use every year as well. They also receive a first round pick if they lose a star FA. It’s just much different. Theres no reason why the Sox can’t operate like the Braves or Houston though. 

[caulfield12]

“A team with a payroll in the 20's like the brewers haven't won a world series since 2003 marlins. 

top 10 payroll win the world series routinely. Not just LA/NY
2023- Texas Rangers 4th 2022- Houston Astros 8th 2021- Atlanta Braves 10th 2020- LA Dodgers 1st 2019- Washington nationals 7th 2018- Boston Red Sox 1st *2017- Houston Astros 17th (cheated) 2016- Chicago cubs 5th

Payroll disparity is only getting worse. I mean... Shohei Ohtani's AAV is larger than 4 current MLB payrolls (before deferred payments) His $70 million average annual value puts Ohtani ahead of the current projected 26-man payrolls of the Cincinnati Reds ($67.5 million), Kansas City Royals ($67.2 million), Pittsburgh Pirates ($49.2 million) and Oakland Athletics ($33.9 million), per Cot's Contracts.

(Note as of Feb 2025 he’s “only” ahead of the Marlins’ 30th ranked payroll and barely behind the White Sox).

The sport is a joke and frankly rigged for big markets from a team building/payroll standpoint. Us brewers (any small market, really) fans just lie to ourselves because no matter what, we'll cheer for them like they are our child. It sucks. But nothing will get better until all small markets turn into an Oakland A's and Miami Marlins attendance situation. 

Personally, I'd love to see the MLB die so it is forced to make it competitive and balanced with payroll fairness. Salary cap/floor. It's long overdue.”

2015 Royals were 13th in payroll…btw.

Right now the Tigers are the 19th highest payroll at $144.3 million…so the White Sox would have to raise payroll over $100 million to actually compete legitimately for a World Series.

Edited February 9 by caulfield12