MLB and the Salary Cap

Is it fair that the annual salaries of New York Yankees stars' Alex Rodriguez, C. C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and Derek Jeter all surpass the entire team payroll for the Florida Marlins? How can teams be expected to competitively pursue players on the free agent market if big money teams like Boston, New York, or L.A. have the ability to easily outbid their opponents? Because of the big market teams' vigorous spending, small market teams and their fans suffer. The minute a star enters free agency, the wealthy franchises step up to the plate in a bidding war. Small teams don't even stand a chance. If a hard salary cap was introduced, teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, among others, would have significant opportunities.

The way the payroll cap works is that teams on the verge of going over budget will have to resist so they don't receive a hefty tax for doing so, thus eliminating them from absurd, numerous free agent and trade signings. This gives more teams the ability to compete in signings and reduces a player's bidding pressure. Now you may say that this cap reduces the player's options to choose a team around the league because many would fear to go over budget. But how is that any different from 3 quarters of the league not being able to afford players now? When Barry Zito of the Giants in 2007 received a 7-year 127 million dollar contract what do you think Johan Santana of the Mets thought the following year? He could make more. So he gets a 7-year 151 million dollar contract. When a month ago, C. C. Sabathia saw how bleak the free agent pitching market was, what did he think? More money. His contract tops Santana's at 7-years and 161 million. I wonder what will happen when Brandon Webb or Roy Halladay hits the market. I bet the pattern is going to keep going. I think players deserve to be well paid. In some cases, their popularity puts people in the seats. They sell jerseys, baseball cards, and all kinds of junk. But should their price tags be so high that they eliminate offers from more than half of the league? It could be more reasonable. With the cap, new expectations for contracts could be formed. If pitchers saw restrictions in budgets across the league, I am certain they would be satisfied with lower contracts. Pitchers have dealt with less money the decades and decades before this. They could survive now and still live lavishly.

As of right now, there is no way the Nationals could sign a guy like C. C. Sabathia. Even if they could, there's no reason for him to want to play there. The team has suffered for years and years because of its lack of money and opportunities. Most of these teams depend on the prospects that they bring up. But what happens as soon as they get Rookie of the Year or put up big numbers? They can't afford them anymore. Then off they go to the big franchises. Something needs to be done. If small teams were able to put a consistently winning team on the field, their attendance will easily spike. If they sign a superstar, they'll sell more merchandise. Maybe they will be able to afford to build a nice, new stadium. With the salary cap, each team has a fighting chance. Their fans could be happier. Their players could be reassured that their ball club has equal opportunities. Free agents might be more attracted to a smaller franchise that has the potential of a big one. Much can be said.

Salary cap or not, baseball is supposed to be America's pastime, not just a select fews.