Closer Status...

[mhughes0021]

The rumor mill earlier this week had agent Scott Boras phoning Tigers owner Mike Ilitch to peddle the services of closer Rafael Soriano, who recently turned down the Yankees' offer of $13.3 million for 2013.

The belief is that Boras is trying to bypass the Tigers' front office and go directly to the top. After all, the uber agent has a long bargaining history with Ilitch, including deals for Prince Fielder and Johnny Damon.

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News, however, says Ilitch is more likely to follow the advice of his front office staff, which means passing on Soriano and possibly handing the closer's job to the untested Bruce Rondon.

Boras said recently that Soriano could command a deal in the range of four years and $60 million. That may be out of the Tigers' price range (or any team, for that matter), but our Buster Olney says Detroit should not close the door on the reliever who had 42 saves for the Yankees:

 

[Mitchrapp]

He wants more than 13m as a closer? Not my money but that's some fk'd up shit.

 

[tigersofjustice]

He's not worth anywhere close to 60 over 4. The whole "it's not my money" thing is fine too but the reality is the Tigers do have some kind of budget, and blowing stupid money on mediocre players like Soriano is at least somewhat likely to put a dent in expenditures elsewhere. For that reason I hope it doesn't happen.

 

[spockmaster]

if boras manages to coerce illitch into signing soriano, im gonna shank him (boras). i hate that fucking asshole, and we DONT need soriano. not for $15 million a year.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I don't want him either but when MI signs a guy for over 200m he has no budget.

 

[zoombabyzoom]

I dont want to sign a closer, I really think we have the solution somewhere already in our system. Closer's imo are overrated...

Mainly because you can have a dominant closer like Valverde, then the next year he drops off and is middle of the road at best. For that reason unless you get a HOF caliber closer don't spend lots of money on that position unless you have to. Closers in this league hardly ever last, might as well use that money elsewhere.

 

[Thumb]

I don't want him either but when MI signs a guy for over 200m he has no budget.

There is always a limit.

You think because he gave someone 200 million that means it's open wallet?

For all you know that 200 million was part of a budget.

 

[Mitchrapp]

There is always a limit.

You think because he gave someone 200 million that means it's open wallet?

For all you know that 200 million was part of a budget.

But no one knows what that is. Yet a bunch of you insist you do by saying so and so is too much for MI. Whether or not he will I can see MI spend 15 for a closer and still 15 more for Sanchez. I remember when a couple years ago some of you didn't see 120m payroll..And yet he keeps on spending.

 

[kalinecountry]

whatever the budget, I don't think Ilitch would go over the threshhold for paying a luxury tax.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

whatever the budget, I don't think Ilitch would go over the threshhold for paying a luxury tax.

I tend to agree with you. That's what, $189mil? Where are we at right now, about $135mil?

 

[kalinecountry]

I tend to agree with you. That's what, $189mil? Where are we at right now, about $135mil?

yeah almost sure, not 100% sure.
but seems to be the $$$ number I remember... from yankees' posters and complaints about cashman and Steinbrenners' son(s) not wanting to go over.

 

[Mitchrapp]

189m is lots of money still. He could sign Sanchez, a closer, an OF and some pen guys and still have money left.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

189m is lots of money still. He could sign Sanchez, a closer, an OF and some pen guys and still have money left.

Exactly. I don't think we are even close to the luxury tax level yet, so he's got room to sign some big time players if he wants to and can still avoid the big tax bill.

 

[Rebbiv]

Detroit's Break even point

2.5 Mil Attendance = $145 Mil Payroll

2.75 Mill Attendance = $160 Mil Payroll

3.0 Mil Attendance = $175 Mil Payroll

**DET has averaged 2.675 Mil per year over the last 4 years.


The current 25-man roster payroll is assumed to be $135.5 Mil for only 17 players. There is still 8 players expected to be purchased or obtained. If you spend $15 Mil for Sanchez and another $10 Mil or so for a closer, you are at $160 Mil with 6 more players to add.

It may not be our money, but without attendance or ticket increases, payroll could be at an unsustainable levels. In which case, players like Verlander and/or Cabrera won't be re-signed.

NYY's Break even point

3.5 Mil Attendance = $284 Mil Payroll

3.75 Mil Attendance = $304 Mil Payroll

4.0 Mil Attendance = $324 Mil Payroll

**NYY has averaged 3.670 Mil in attendance per year over the last 4

The average ticket for Comerica in 2012 was $31.00. The average ticket for Yankee stadium was $51.22. When the Yankees average a million more fans, and their average ticket price is $20 more, this means they can easily spend $20 Mil more than DET without blinking.


Illitch did not get rich by making bad financial choices. He might over-extend for one year, but he isn't going to over-extend long term.


DET is 13th in total attendance over the last 4 years. Teams like ATL and NYM are close behind. DET's attendance average is at it's all time best. ATL and NYM are on a downturn. So, basically, giving normal circumstances, DET is an average MLB attendance team, paying salaries in the top 20%.