David Ortiz

[DownUnderDodger]

I read to day that Ortiz has signed a 2 year $26M contract with the Red Sox. In this economic climate I feel that is way over the top for a DH nearing the end of his career. Will there ever be a reducing in the overpaid salaries of some baseball players (and other professional sports people for that matter) or will the highest payments continue to spiral out of control?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I read to day that Ortiz has signed a 2 year $26M contract with the Red Sox. In this economic climate I feel that is way over the top for a DH nearing the end of his career. Will there ever be a reducing in the overpaid salaries of some baseball players (and other professional sports people for that matter) or will the highest payments continue to spiral out of control?

Four questions:

1) Who decides what a player should be paid?

2) How much should David Ortiz be paid in your opinion?

3) How did you arrive at this salary you answered for question 2?

4) If you were in Ortiz's situation and the Red Sox offered you the same deal would you reply by saying, "No, that is too much money. Please pay me less."?

[SamtheBravesFan]

If $13 million a year is too much for Ortiz, I would LOVE to know what he "should" be making.

[Ben Grimm]

He was having one of the best seasons of his career prior to his injury. Considering he's played 145+ games 7 of his 8 previous seasons (sitting sometimes during IL play in NL parks), he has no string of risk except for his age. It's a short-term deal with very little risk since he's in the AL and he's been a fan favorite for quite some time. Even when you rebuild, you have to have some name players on the field when you have such high ticket prices or else people wouldn't buy them.

[GiambiJuice]

As long as he cheats as he's done in the past, it will be money well spent. And if he gets caught, the Red Sox won't have to pay him anyway while he's suspended.

[John Shoemaker]

Finally the Red Sox made a good move.

[Yankillaz]

Don't know if this is a money-oriented move, or a loyal one. Sure, Ortiz was having one of the best offensive stretches in his career, and now with the low run scoring production, well, is even more valuable. But, there's one thing: Free Agents to be, play at a higher lever for contract reasons. Sure, he had a year and a half tearing the league, but isn't that too much of a coincidence. Torii Hunter is in the same mold. had a very good season right when it mattered. The problem is, that teams always take the bait.

Now, if it was a loyal thing, then be it. Ortiz has done a lot in Boston. His 10 year tenure is one of the greatest, if not the third greatest behind Williams and Yaz. But he brought home 2 WS titles. He's a fan favorite, and his work ethic says he can be productive for the remain of this contract.

[Rich the Giants fan]

So long as we the fans continue to pay the absurdly high price of admission to Major League games, MLB will continue to rake in serious revenues that will - deservedly so - make these players wealthy. I mean, as long as the revenue is there, it's either the players, the owners, or both, that will continue to get rich. If the players don't get it, the owners will. What we as fans should do - but never would because we don't act like an intelligent union like the players - is band together and strike against the lot of them until ticket prices are made reasonable again. The money is there, why shouldn't the players who entertain us the most earn most of it? I'd prefer that over making 30 rich guys a lot richer.

[Captain Cold Nose]

So long as we the fans continue to pay the absurdly high price of admission to Major League games, MLB will continue to rake in serious revenues that will - deservedly so - make these players wealthy. I mean, as long as the revenue is there, it's either the players, the owners, or both, that will continue to get rich. If the players don't get it, the owners will. What we as fans should do - but never would because we don't act like an intelligent union like the players - is band together and strike against the lot of them until ticket prices are made reasonable again. The money is there, why shouldn't the players who entertain us the most earn most of it? I'd prefer that over making 30 rich guys a lot richer.

Fan admission is hardly the only way teams make money. It's the TV (and TV advertising) money that is the big impact there. As long as that is there, the revenue stream flows freely. But, I agree the players deserve their fair take as opposed to the owners pocketing it all.

[PlanetZoltan]

Fan admission is hardly the only way teams make money. It's the TV (and TV advertising) money that is the big impact there. As long as that is there, the revenue stream flows freely. But, I agree the players deserve their fair take as opposed to the owners pocketing it all.

Your last sentence is something that we need to remember. If the players arent getting the money, then that must mean owners are.

[dgarza]

Your last sentence is something that we need to remember. If the players arent getting the money, then that must mean owners are.

Or the agents. Or any number of other interested parties.

[GiambiJuice]

Don't know if this is a money-oriented move, or a loyal one. Sure, Ortiz was having one of the best offensive stretches in his career, and now with the low run scoring production, well, is even more valuable. But, there's one thing: Free Agents to be, play at a higher lever for contract reasons. Sure, he had a year and a half tearing the league, but isn't that too much of a coincidence. Torii Hunter is in the same mold. had a very good season right when it mattered. The problem is, that teams always take the bait.

Now, if it was a loyal thing, then be it. Ortiz has done a lot in Boston. His 10 year tenure is one of the greatest, if not the third greatest behind Williams and Yaz. But he brought home 2 WS titles. He's a fan favorite, and his work ethic says he can be productive for the remain of this contract.

I don't want to nitpick this minor part of a good post, but Wade Boggs had a better Red Sox career than Ortiz by a pretty good margin.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Or the agents. Or any number of other interested parties.

Agents for whom?

[Rich the Giants fan]

Fan admission is hardly the only way teams make money. It's the TV (and TV advertising) money that is the big impact there. As long as that is there, the revenue stream flows freely. But, I agree the players deserve their fair take as opposed to the owners pocketing it all.

That is very true, good point. It's another reason why ticket prices should be lower, too. Baseball games should be easier for families to afford to go to.

[Ben Grimm]

That is very true, good point. It's another reason why ticket prices should be lower, too. Baseball games should be easier for families to afford to go to.

It seems to me that families are going to minor league games as an alternative. Let's face it. Tickets will remain what the market will bear. As long as there's demand...

MiLB saw an increase for attendance once again in 2012 and surpassed 41 million thru the gate for the eighth consecutive season. If this is the case (families going for the alternative) then I'm sure the 176 clubs throughout minor league baseball are quite fine with MLB's ticket prices.

My uncle was a 15-year season ticket holder for the Phillies. Once he had a family with four kids and a new home, the Reading Phillies became his entertainment of choice for the next decade.

I look at sports (entertainment) as a luxury item. And with most - if not all - luxury items, there is often a high price tag attached.