During the 2024 CWS run ESPN showed Jeff Kent chewing sunflower seeds in the stands more than Kaden playing. It was a running joke all post season.
Dodgers get Tigers 2x Cy Young award winner, Tarik Skubal. Just give them the NL Crown. What a rotation they have, and now it's even better.
The rich get richer. Another story of a small market team knowing it can't match the contract offers its star will receive in free agency, which I think is after this season, so it trades him hoping it can get something worthwhile in return. The Tigers received 3 minor league prospects with good upsides according to what I've read.
I wonder what the reaction will be for the small market owners. My uninformed guess is that the Dodgers are going to cause these owners to dig in for a salary cap for the upcoming contract.
It's a tough situation for the small market teams. The challenge is to find balance between the bottomless pockets of the wealthy owners and the limited resources on the other side without going too far in one direction. That's why I agree with Bobda that the majority of owners are likely to seek a salary cap. It has to be high enough to satisfy the players but low enough to prevent star player hoarding simlar to you-know-who.
Tigers drew 2.5 million last season. That was an increase of half a million from the prior season. Skubal was a big part of that surge. It's a shame he just couldn't be satisfied.
Don't blame Skubal. It wasn't his decision to be traded. He made an emotional public statement that he didn't want to leave. The MLB facts of life prevailed. The Tigers knew they wouldn't be able to meet his free agent market value, so they did the best they could to get something in return. By the way, the Cubs spoiled his Dodger debut last night.