KW calls $30 million for Albert Pujols “asinine"

[soxsoxsoxsox]

In an interview with Chuck Garfien of CSNChicago.com earlier today, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said that his club won’t go after Albert Pujols if he becomes available as a free agent following the 2011 season.

 

Hardly surprising information given that the White Sox signed Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko to multi-year contracts over the winter, but what was more interesting was what Williams said about the possibility of the game having a $30 million player.

 

“For the game’s health as a whole, when we’re talking about 30 million dollar players, I think it’s asinine,” Williams said in an interview with Comcast SportsNet. “We have gotten to the point of no return. Something has to happen. And if it means the game being shut down for the sake of bringing sanity to it, to franchises that aren’t going to stop the insanity, I’m all for it.”

 

Yes, at least for a moment, Williams appeared to advocate the idea of another work stoppage in MLB. He continues:

 

“Jerry Reinsdorf put it best when he and I had a conversation about it, he said, ‘It’s a shame that our game is played, and when the game starts, everybody plays under the same rules, the same 27 outs. The problem is, before the game, the rules are completely different.’”

 

“I personally, from a competitive standpoint, would love to be on an even playing field with everyone,” Williams said. “But it’s really difficult for me to complain too much when we still have a higher payroll than some of the others. So at least we have a fighting chance.”

 

Oh, so Jerry Reinsdorf wants a salary cap. Of course he does.

 

Williams must have felt someone tap him on his shoulder — or maybe he just remembered how the concept of a salary cap in MLB is a tired and silly notion — because he quickly came to his senses and attempted to put the genie back in the bottle.

 

“Wait a minute, didn’t I say I wanted it quiet, I wanted peace? Let me shut the hell up already. I was hoping no one would ask me that this entire spring training.”

 

Too late, Kenny.

[RockRaines]

He's partially right, no reason players should be making that much money. Of course, they have to because there are owners willing to spend that cash.

[IlliniKrush]

It'd be fine if they were making that much money if the majority of teams could pay players that money. I don't care if guys make 100 million a year if that's what the market calls for - i.e. all teams have that much money to play with because revenue for all teams and the league is high. The problem is that only a few teams can afford the best players on the market.

 

It's getting ridiculous - some teams have almost no chance of competing, even if they scout correctly, develop players, and sign good value guys. No other sport has that disparity anymore.

 

His interview was spot on.

Edited February 22, 2011 by IlliniKrush

[chw42]

It's not the $30 million per season that's the issue, it's the $30 million for 9-10 years that is the problem. Pujols, at this point, is worth the $30 million, trust me.

[Whitewashed in '05]

Steinbrenner also said baseball's revenue sharing and luxury tax programs need changes, and that Commissioner Bud Selig is open to the idea.

 

Steinbrenner said he doesn't know what the final figure is, but expects the Yankees' 2010 payments for the two to total about $130 million.

 

"We've got to do a little something about that, and I know Bud wants to correct it in some way," Steinbrenner said. "Obviously, we're very much allies with the Red Sox and the Mets, the Dodgers, the Cubs, whoever in that area."

 

"At some point, if you don't want to worry about teams in minor markets, don't put teams in minor markets, or don't leave teams in minor markets if they're truly minor," Steinbrenner said. "Socialism, communism, whatever you want to call it, is never the answer."

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110221/ap_on_...es_steinbrenner

 

That's Hank btw.

 

I read this just a little while ago and then stumbled on this thread. I wonder what Hank has to say about this.

[dmbjeff]

KW is full of it. He is this same guy who tried to trade for ARod a few years back. $25 mil, $30 mil, it's all crazy money.

[chisoxfan09]

Even if KW had 30 million to throw around, where do you out Konerko and Dunn?

[Leonard Washington]

Even if KW had 30 million to throw around, where do you out Konerko and Dunn?

It would have to be Dunn in LF in 2012, which would never happen.

[joeynach]

KW is full of it. He is this same guy who tried to trade for ARod a few years back. $25 mil, $30 mil, it's all crazy money.

 

Its not KW's money.

[Jordan4life_2007]

KW is full of it. He is this same guy who tried to trade for ARod a few years back. $25 mil, $30 mil, it's all crazy money.

 

True. KW would gladly throw that at Pujols if he could. But it's like what chw42 said. It's the years, not the money. Albert won't be worth anything near $30 million after age 35.

[Dick Allen]

True. KW would gladly throw that at Pujols if he could. But it's like what chw42 said. It's the years, not the money. Albert won't be worth anything near $30 million after age 35.

He said he would never give Pujols $30 million a year even if JR authorized it. I think he's a little off here. As Bill Veeck once pointed out, its not the top players in the game distorting salaries, they are worth it. Its the next tiers of players that are easily replaceable, no one pays to see, and are making big bucks on long term contracts. Nobody can claim they should be paid Albert Pujols money except Albert Pujols. What's assinine is giving players like Mark Teahen $5 million a year for really no reason.

Edited February 22, 2011 by Dick Allen

[NorthSideSox72]

Paying any one player $30M per year for more than a couple years max is stupidity plain and simple. Even for a $200M payroll Yankees team, that's 15% of the team payroll. The risk of injury and complete handcuffing that does make it a potentially crippling move for any team other than NYY, and even for them is probably stupid beyond about 3 years of that level of money. For the other teams, any more than 2 years is basically putting on an O'Hare option.

 

I sincerely hope the Sox do not get into a contract at that level with Pujols or anyone else.

 

[Balta1701]

If Albert Pujols hits the FA market this winter, you can bet there will be people here suggesting we ought to take the gamble and go after him.

[ScottyDo]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110221/ap_on_...es_steinbrenner

 

That's Hank btw.

 

I read this just a little while ago and then stumbled on this thread. I wonder what Hank has to say about this.

lmao @ a salary cap being "communism". I'm sure if he had his way, the Yankees would be the only team and they would play the Washington Generals everywhere they went.

[IamPabloOzuna]

here's the video...it's worth the 5 minutes: http://www.csnchicago.com/pages/video?PID=...KpIUOhh_Z90keKA

[Texsox]

Is that regardless of team profits? Remember, that is what we really care about. So if a team can pay Pujols that money and make money, why not? One issue I have with a salary cap is if it means the Yankees will now make $$$$$ while the Pirates can now break even. Seems like there has to be some revenue sharing in the mix, and I hate to even write those words.

[Soxfest]

KW always talks out both sides of his ass!

[greg775]

The best thing he said was we've reached a point of no return.

Baseball is already out of control. If somebody is willing to give Pujols 30 million a year for 10 years, it's insanity.

Look at Manny Ramirez. He's basically finished at what? 37?

Dye was finished at 36, 37.

There are tons of stories of guys dropping off at that age.

Who is to say Pujols is going to be productive for the last four years of that deal?

But for the Yankees, Red Sox (which is where he will end up) are banking his presence coupled with all the other high money guys could give them 3-4 WS titles which would be "worth it."

 

The Cardinals haven't exactly dominated baseball with Albert.

 

It's too late for anything to change, but I respect KW for calling it "asinine." Perfect word.

Edited February 22, 2011 by greg775

[BigSqwert]

KW always talks out both sides of his ass!

He does not talk out of his ass. That's impossible.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

He does not talk out of his ass. That's impossible.

 

[hawksox13]

 

I have to agree with Kenny here. If you are given $30M to play with, you don't spend it all in one place, you spread it around to make your team better overall. Not to mention, there is no way Pujols is worth $30M per season, even this year or next, and you especially don't give a guy that kind of money when he'll be turning 32 when the contract starts. For $30M the White Sox have Konerko, Dunn, and Quentin under contract this year (actually combined those three only make $29.05M in 2011) and those three combined will likely hit 100 HR's and drive in 300 runs. For a team to use 25-30% of their entire payroll on one player is absolutey insane, and won't prove to be a winning formula.

[BigSqwert]

LOL. I set you up for that one.

[jphat007]

Somebody on twitter made the comment that they thought it was asinine to give $30 million to Jake Peavy and Alex Rios as well. I thought it was an interesting point.

[Leonard Zelig]

Somebody on twitter made the comment that they thought it was asinine to give $30 million to Jake Peavy and Alex Rios as well. I thought it was an interesting point.

I absolutely agree, if it were for 10 years.

[elrockinMT]

I agree with KW. Huge salaries for the like of Alex Rodriguez-CC Sabathia and others is also plain nuts