Three teams that know how to play the winter waiting game (ESPN+ Request)

[memyworld]

Three teams that know how to play the winter waiting game

Buster Olney | ESPN Senior Writer | Wednesday, December 19 at 9:00 AM CT

The Tampa Bay Rays don't know where they will play in a decade. The Milwaukee Brewers spent about $150 million less in payroll than the champion Red Sox. The Minnesota Twins just announced they will retire the number of their most prominent 2018 star, Joe Mauer, who is headed into retirement.

These three franchises face perpetual challenges in payroll and resource management, working with the knowledge that one big personnel mistake -- paying too much money to the wrong guy -- could devastate their franchise, a concern the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers and other superpowers don't bear. For the Rays, Brewers and Twins, two significant mistakes could require a recovery period of five to eight years, and (probably) front office turnover.

Because of that ledge the Rays, Brewers and Twins must carefully creep along, they will never be the envy of other franchises. But they seem to be some of the best current examples of how teams are carefully sorting through their choices, and aggressively working to avoid risk and extract the full power of dollars spent...

[weimy froob]

when's dan going to chime in about how much money the pohlad's have?

[Tommy_Hawk]

Three poor examples of what a major sports franchise shoukd look like.Two big mistakes will set each franchise back 5-8 years? What other sport is this the reality?

The Twins have already been set back that long since Mauer signed his contract, and that was only one big mistake. I understand having a few down years here and there, but five-eight is disheartening, and disappointing. What's the point of being a fan, buying tickets, buying merch, watching sponsors, ect if the margin of error is so miniscule? Who is in charge and at what capacity are they able to make the right decision?

[full force five]

Some interesting tweets and discussion on common's show yesterday about the twins, % below average total payroll and record while at the Target field. Summary: the twins are cheap, have the worse record in baseball and will be an epic fail this season. Tickets are target field will be cheap by July from scalpers.

[RubeTube]

Some interesting tweets and discussion on common's show yesterday about the twins, % below average total payroll and record while at the Target field. Summary: the twins are cheap, have the worse record in baseball and will be an epic fail this season. Tickets are target field will be cheap by July from scalpers.

Tickets will be cheap from day one! With the popularity of baseball dwindling more and more and this team sucking, no one cares.

Remember when it used to be hard to get a home opener ticket? They are lucky to have half a stadium filled for it anymore.

Anyone who calls the Twins off season plan good, needs to stop writing.

[RubeTube]

Some interesting tweets and discussion on common's show yesterday about the twins, % below average total payroll and record while at the Target field. Summary: the twins are cheap, have the worse record in baseball and will be an epic fail this season. Tickets are target field will be cheap by July from scalpers.

They will wait for the biggest turds to sink and then go fishing!

[Qman65]

Since Jim doesn't want to spend any real money, he's the Calvin Griffith of the American League. Hoping to win on the cheap.

[beetlebum71]

Three poor examples of what a major sports franchise shoukd look like.Two big mistakes will set each franchise back 5-8 years? What other sport is this the reality?

The Twins have already been set back that long since Mauer signed his contract, and that was only one big mistake. I understand having a few down years here and there, but five-eight is disheartening, and disappointing. What's the point of being a fan, buying tickets, buying merch, watching sponsors, ect if the margin of error is so miniscule? Who is in charge and at what capacity are they able to make the right decision?

The NBA is like that. Give a max deal to the wrong guy and you're paying for it for 5 years. At least in baseball you're not tied to a salary cap. If an owner was willing to increase spending to make up for a flub, they could at least do it. It might be bad business, but it's at least possible.