https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/12/29/the-payroll-poll-3/
THE PAYROLL POLL Part Three.
Totally Tigers
Let?s conclude the 3-part series on payroll in baseball.
The first poll was focused on Mets owner Steve Cohen and his willingness to spend whatever it takes to win a ring. Yesterday, we explored what each team was spending, especially those shelling out the most and the least. We asked the question as to whether MLB should install salary caps. If you missed that poll, you have today only to vote before that survey also ends.
Now let?s turn to the Detroit Tigers and their payroll.
For the first 13 years of owning the team, Mike Ilitch spent sparingly on the Tigers. Upon hiring Dave Dombrowski back in 2022, the Tigers increased payroll significantly almost every year. The team went from $54 mill to $212 mill during his tenure. Most of that time, the Tigers ranked within the top 5 of team payrolls. Often sitting at #2 or #3.
While that money fueled multiple division titles and October baseball, it failed the ultimate test ? a World Series trophy. The Tigers won only 1 game out of 2 WS appearances.
And despite attracting large attendance numbers, the Tigers operated in the red for the last 10 years of Dombrowski?s tenure.
Due mostly to contracts that increasingly got expensive, Opening Day payroll continued to climb for the Tigers in 2016 and 2017 while the team slid backwards in the standings. Because of those 2 factors, the Tigers were pushed into a tear down that lasted 5 years and a rebuild that has yet to take off.
They now hold the record for the team with the longest playoff drought.
Last year was the first one since 2017-18 that the Tigers grew their payroll. Chris Ilitch ranked 3rd in spending the most money for the 2022 season but it was not spent well by his former GM, Al Avila.
The Tigers sit at #18 in payroll for the 2022 season with $136 mill. They were $14 mill below the average MLB payroll.
The White Sox are over $200 mill. The Twins are just slightly ahead of the Tigers by $13 mill.
The Tigers are significantly outspending the Royals and Indians. It is way too soon to put a dollar amount on this year?s payroll.
Where should the Tigers be sitting in payroll for the near future? How much do they need in order to become competitive?
Or is a solid organization more of a factor in how successful a team becomes?
How much is enough without putting the team?s future in jeopardy and risking another tear down?
Consider all of this ? and more ? when you think about how much this organization should invest.
Tell us by voting.
What should the Tigers' payroll be for the near future?
1. $203 million (White Sox) or more.
2. Less than $200 million but more than MLB average of $151 million.
3. Within the neighborhood of MLB average $151 million.
4. Similar to current $136 million payroll.
5. Less than $136 million payroll (Royals and Indians spending significantly less).
VOTE
