Clark calls out Arte

[ABC]

Money matters

Owner Arte Moreno said in December that one reason he did not pursue any high-priced free-agent left fielders over the off-season was that "there is a possibility" the competitive balance tax (CBT) threshold could be reduced in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement this year.

 

But players union chief Tony Clark, who met with the Angels on Saturday as part of his spring-training rounds, rejected that suggestion.

 

The luxury-tax threshold has risen from $117 million in 2003 to $189 million in 2014, and has not decreased from one year to the next.

 

"There is nothing that would suggest that, with an industry that is growing, that going backwards in that regard makes sense," Clark said. "The CBT has historically grown as the industry has grown."

 

 

http://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-0313-angels-20160313-story.html

 

[gotbeer]

What Clark did not say was that later on, Arte admitted that the Angels have a budget.  Clark is just posturing for the upcoming negotiations, and trying to get the outrage ready in case the owners want a lower CBT.

[Ohtaniland]

Plain and simple, Arte was not in a buying mood after getting continually burned by players that netted him zero playoff wins for his efforts. Arte finally figured out that paying players enormous amounts of money doesn't make them play like champions. When financially conservative teams like the Royals and Astros are making the playoffs it has to have Arte rethinking his approach. I think Arte will actually cut the budget moving forward. He has Mike Trout to fill the seats.

[zenmaster]

Expect Arte's wallet to remain closed until Hamilton and Pujols are off the books. Only another 5-6 years now?

[Stradling]

Plain and simple, Arte was not in a buying mood after getting continually burned by players that netted him zero playoff wins for his efforts. Arte finally figured out that paying players enormous amounts of money doesn't make them play like champions. When financially conservative teams like the Royals and Astros are making the playoffs it has to have Arte rethinking his approach. I think Arte will actually cut the budget moving forward. He has Mike Trout to fill the seats.

Then you'd think he'd invest in player development as opposed to ignoring and short changing that part of his franchise for most of his tenure. Especially since the two teams you mentioned aren't financially conservative as much as they are benefiting from being lousy for years (30 in the Royals case), and benefiting now from player development.

[Stradling]

If the Angels take the Royals blueprint they will be back in the playoffs in 2043, and they'll win it in 2044. Angelswon.com will be a Victorious Ghostown by then.

[Ohtaniland]

Then you'd think he'd invest in player development as opposed to ignoring and short changing that part of his franchise for most of his tenure. Especially since the two teams you mentioned aren't financially conservative as much as they are benefiting from being lousy for years (30 in the Royals case), and benefiting now from player development.

It was all about the playoffs and the "win now" mentality that Arte AND the fans bought into. That plan failed so it's on to plan B.

[fan_since79]

Expect Arte's wallet to remain closed until Hamilton and Pujols are off the books. Only another 5-6 years now?

 

A World Series title would make a great 70th birthday present. Hope I can hang in there until then.

[Stradling]

It was all about the playoffs and the "win now" mentality that Arte AND the fans bought into. That plan failed so it's on to plan B.

If your owner says that he's a big market team, then he signs one of the largest tv contracts, and he signs free agents, yea you tend to think you have a team that wants to compete on an annual basis, which in one sense of the term they have. What the truly great teams do is a combination of both player development and free agent signing along with smart trades. The past few years it's been a few very smart trades, a few bad signings and zero player development.

[Blarg]

This would have been a much funnier thread if it was Jack Clark calling out Arte.

[Blarg]

A World Series title would make a great 70th birthday present. Hope I can hang in there until then.

2017?

[Stradling]

This would have been a much funnier thread if it was Jack Clark calling out Arte.

Yes

[laagamer]

Why would the head of the Player's Union ever admit the cap might lower?

[Stradling]

Who has more reason to stretch the truth, an owner facing scrutiny for not spending to improve his teams biggest weakness or the head of the players union that has zero reason to even bring it up?

[Blarg]

I would guess the guy that has more to gain.

That would be Clark.

[Ohtaniland]

If your owner says that he's a big market team, then he signs one of the largest tv contracts, and he signs free agents, yea you tend to think you have a team that wants to compete on an annual basis, which in one sense of the term they have. What the truly great teams do is a combination of both player development and free agent signing along with smart trades. The past few years it's been a few very smart trades, a few bad signings and zero player development.

4 teams went over the threshold in 2015. The Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees ( because money is never a problem for those iconic franchises who've had dynasty past ) and the Giants who's players have delivered recent championships in return. Arte Angels are not an iconic franchise with a dynasty past nor have the players delivered him a championship.

[Slegnaac]

The threshold may not go up but who is to say that the penalties may not increase instead?

[DowningRules]

Union reps of all stripes get very antsy when owners don't spend more money for the sake of spending more money.

[Stradling]

I like Arte, but if he isn't going to invest in the farm and he's done with free agency, then he should sell the team. You say he's learned his lesson, I say if that was true you'd see him change the develop side, and he'd probably trade guys like Gott for younger players rather than established veterans.

[Inside Pitch]

This is one of those pointless arguments that I can't get into.   I think Arte's comment about the CBA is just lip service to cover for his unwillingness to spend this offseason....  Whatever, just throw all that money into player development and actually get something useful out of it.

Edited March 13, 2016 by Inside Pitch

[Stradling]

4 teams went over the threshold in 2015. The Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees ( because money is never a problem for those iconic franchises who've had dynasty past ) and the Giants who's players have delivered recent championships in return. Arte Angels are not an iconic franchise with a dynasty past nor have the players delivered him a championship.

Which is another reason to spend money on player development.

[Inside Pitch]

Which is another reason to spend money on player development.

 

Makes you wonder how much better off this team would be by spending an extra mil a year on scouts/scouting.

[gotbeer]

Makes you wonder how much better off this team would be by spending an extra mil a year on scouts/scouting.

 

Just imagine how much better this team would be by spending an extra mil a year on scouts/scouting in Asia.  There were a lot of players, IMO, that wouldn't have cost much that were available this offseason and would have helped this team. 

[Blarg]

Sometimes you need more baseball people making up the budget to put tge money where it needs to go. I think too much of business accounting rather than baseball operations has been the model for investing in the minor league/scouting.

[Ohtaniland]

Makes you wonder how much better off this team would be by spending an extra mil a year on scouts/scouting.

But the fans wanted Pujols, Hamilton, Greinke, Wilson, Tanaka, Heyward, Upton and many more. You can't have it both ways. Arte went "all in" with Pujols, Wilson and Hamilton and got screwed. Not even one playoff win was enough for Arte to figure it out. Some fans here were asking Arte to give Trout a 10 year $400m deal....laughable.

Edited March 13, 2016 by CALZONE