I thought this was a good article regarding the money....when Prince signed with us.
The Tigers already were on the hook for mega-deals with Miguel Cabrera (eight years, $152.3 million through 2015) and Justin Verlander (five years, $80 million through 2014).
The influx of new TV money should assuage payroll worry.
"The Tigers have the treasury to afford that kind of contract. Moreover, the club is looking at a revenue stream that will allow it to pay for several huge contracts on the order of Verlander, Cabrera and Fielder's," said Gary Gillette, the Detroit-based author, co-editor of the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia and board member of the Society for American Baseball Research.
"The Tigers also can afford to round out the club with well-paid veterans at other positions when it makes sense. That is, they don't have to load up with minimum-wage rookies or low-paid players with only a little big-league experience in order to afford the big paychecks that their superstars earn."
Detroit committed $134.4 million to player contracts by Opening Day (which includes salaries and signing bonuses, according to tracking done by BaseballProspectus.com).
Payroll concerns were largely theoretical since there has been no evidence ownership cannot afford to sustain its spending. Ilitch-owned companies generate more than $2.4 billion in annual revenue, and some of that cash is believed to subsidize Tigers operating losses reported by Forbes.com. The Ilitch fortune stems largely from the family's Little Caesars pizza chain.
"With the club going to the postseason in 2012, Detroit will profit handsomely in 2013 and 2014. And, unless the Tigers get blown out early in October this year, the 2012 postseason will provide a nice little windfall at the end of a profitable year," Gillette said.
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/articl...new-tv-deals-should-cover-prince-ly-paychecks