If this is the "most prodigious free agent market in baseball history, no one has bothered to tell the Yankees and Dodgers," as it has agents "scratching their heads in disbelief at the slow rate of the marketplace," according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner said, “I shouldn’t have to have a $200 million payroll to win a world championship.” Nightengale notes after spending $485M alone two years ago on free agents, the Yankees are "acting as if they might sit out of this free agent market." They have $181.7M in guaranteed salaries in '16, but their future commitments "will be slashed dramatically" by '18 with $94.64M on the books. The free agent marketplace’s "worst nightmare might have been the Yankees’ success this season." They "reached the postseason for the first time in three years, buoyed by the reinforcements from their farm system." Meanwhile, the Dodgers, whose payroll reached a record $310M by the end of last season, also are "acting as if they plan to skip out on the free agent market," aside from P Zack Greinke. Perhaps this is why Dodgers co-Owner Todd Boehly predicts their '16 Opening-Day payroll "will be much closer" to $200M than $300M. The Dodgers have $527.4M in "future commitments, but it drops" to $40M in '19 (USA TODAY, 11/19).
HIGH EXPECTATIONS: In L.A., Steve Dilbeck writes Boehly "uttered the single term that should absolutely never be used by ownership in discussing the Dodgers -- average." Dilbeck: "If you’re in the country’s second-largest market, lead the majors in attendance every year, raise ticket prices annually, jack up parking and sign a record $8.35-billion TV rights deal that leaves half your market without games, then you’d best not be talking about average anything." Admittedly, Boehly "added one helluva qualifier with that 'plus some, or plus a lot' tagline, but it’s embarrassing to suggest that the Dodgers should approach the middle of the pack in anything." Thus far, the Dodgers "have done just about everything they said they would when the Guggenheim ownership took over" in '12. Dilbeck: "It’s not like the team is going to come crashing down to payroll mediocrity any time soon, but nor should it ever. An average payroll should not even be discussed" (L.A. TIMES, 11/19).
BALANCING THE BOOKS: In N.Y., Ken Davidoff notes the Yankees "have become far more predictable since Steinbrenner succeeded his father." Their offseason investments "are predicated largely on how much money they have coming off the books," and just $12.5M "came off the books" after this season. They take their draft picks "very seriously when it comes to pursuing free agents who would cost them a pick as compensation, as they believe strongly that building a team around homegrown players will decrease costs and make the team more likable to fans" (N.Y. POST, 11/19).
