Article Written by: Julian Beck
Many baseball fans scratch their heads at how much professional baseball players get paid with the contracts they sign. Baseball is the only professional sport where it is “guaranteed money.” Meaning when a player signs on the dotted lines they will receive that exact amount throughout their contract years. If the ball player gets injured, traded, or doesn’t live up to the contract, they will receive the amount they signed for. But the spending doesn’t hurt baseball like many people believe. The big spending for free agents allow teams to put fans in the seats, make money at their concession stands, and bring in other big name free agents.
Putting Fans In Seats
Baseball fans go to games to have a good time with their families, make memories with their kids, and to also watch the big name players. Whenever we go to baseball games as a family I always look up the pitching match-ups because I would like to see the aces throw and just dominate, or check injury reports to make sure no stars are injured during the game I attend. Fans’ want to see the studs of today on the field. That’s what they pay for. They don’t come to see Nick Punto penciled into the starting lineup. Baseball fans love to see runs on the board via the homers and hard hits. When a team signs a big name, for example Robinson Cano, they get excited and want to start attending more games. Cano is a great example on why players receive outrageous contracts. The Seattle Mariners are a small market team with young talent but don’t put fans in the seats, Robinson will help with that in a great way.
Revenue
Baseball teams make a majority of their money through tickets’, concession stands, gift shops, parking lot fees, and clothing apparel. When fans start attending games they will end up buying items from the concession stands. The prices aren’t cheap either, but the more people that attend the more money a team can make. Gift shops have novelty items that every family loves taking home as a memory or to add to a collection of theirs. It can simply be something small like a magnet but it’s still a profit for the team. Tens of thousands of people attend games and thousands of vehicles get them there. So of course the ball park charges to park. So when people attend the game that the ace is starting or there is a give away then more people will attend and that is more money for the ball team. One of the biggest way teams profit off the superstars is by apparel sales. Fans love having the jersey, t-shirt, or anything with the name of the stud on their favorite baseball team. Much of the big contract is made up through the revenue the free agent brings in.
Signing Other Players
Baseball is starting to become like basketball with the “Big 3” concept. While in the MLB is mainly a “Big 2” system. And that could be in the pitching rotation or for the 3 and 4 hitters. When a team signs a big name free agent that is like bait for the other free agents on the market. Superstars can’t do it all themselves so they need a sidekick. Baseball players like playing for teams that will sign them for multiple years and treat them like family. When they are comfortable they play more relaxed and don’t feel as pressured to produce because of that big contract. Usually when one superstar goes to a team another will follow. It may not be right away but it could be the next year, which will eventually pay off.
So these big contracts the superstars sign in the MLB are only going to help. Bringing in a good amount of money to the baseball teams through concession stands, parking fees, gift shops, and apparel. It will bring fans in the seats allowing them to spend their money and make memories with their families. It will also allow other big name players to sign with a team with a superstar hoping they receive a big contract in return. All of this is possible simply by signing a stud to a big contract.
Do you believe big contracts are helping or hurting the MLB? Leave your comments down below.
