Comments on: The Cubs Can Afford Any Free Agent They Want http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/11/08/the-cubs-can-afford-any-free-agent-they-want/ Just another Baseball Prospectus Local Sites site Sat, 16 Feb 2019 21:04:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 By: Matt http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/11/08/the-cubs-can-afford-any-free-agent-they-want/#comment-23726 Tue, 13 Nov 2018 17:52:59 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=25581#comment-23726 Isn’t it a progressive tax? ie, each marginal rate is applied only to the amount between the thresholds?

$20M*.2+$20M*.32+$30M*.625=$29.15M in overages, if so. That’s even less than the $44M you calculated.

I think it’s pretty well accepted that any party wealthy enough to own a professional sports team *could* blow out the payroll at any time, but none do. I certainly don’t disagree with your assertion, though. The Cubs should be willing to pony up for a year and be that much more magnetic a product for when their TV network is being formed.

]]> By: The CHI Sports Fan http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/11/08/the-cubs-can-afford-any-free-agent-they-want/#comment-23666 Thu, 08 Nov 2018 20:16:50 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=25581#comment-23666 If your goal is to become the Nationals, I agree with you. However you didn’t mention that under your scenario going over the cap you completely wipe out not just your International Pool options you have effectively hamstrung the Cubs ability to buy in-season talent/keep existing talent in 2021 and after. Harper hasn’t had a 5+ WAR season since 2012, and ranks among the lowest in FG CLUTCH rankings. Everyone hates it – but that’s been the single biggest problem with KB as well. He puts up great numbers – except when you need it down 1 in the 9th with a runner on 2nd. And he has virtually no versatility whatsoever.

Afford is a relative term, but while I want to see the Cubs improve (which they will if Morrow and Darvish return to form), but this approach took the Yankees out of the national picture for 3+ years saddled with huge contracts from increasingly deteriorating talent.

]]> By: Dan http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/11/08/the-cubs-can-afford-any-free-agent-they-want/#comment-23661 Thu, 08 Nov 2018 15:01:47 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=25581#comment-23661 Superb job.

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