While the Dodgers and Yankees are just now avoiding the luxury tax
http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/jarvis-landry-jersey , the Phillies have been avoiding it for several years as they've sought to
rebuild following the collapse of the Chase Utley-, Jimmy Rollins- and Ryan
Howard-led era.Even after taking their first steps out of their rebuild with a
$135 million investment in Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana last winter, the
Phillies only opened 2018 with a $95.3 million payroll. As of now, they barely
have more money ($68.9 million) committed to 2019 than the Cincinnati Reds
($68.6 million).These figures amount to loose change for a franchise that peaked
with $183.5 million in payroll expenses in 2014. And that was two yearsbefore
their $2.5 billionTV contract kicked in.Beyond the money needed to sign Harper,
25, and Machado, 26, the Phillies have something else that's kinda-sorta-very
important: a strong need for them on the field.The team's return to contention
in 2018 has hit a wall in part because its offense has run out of gas. Amid
Philadelphia's 15-29 stretch since August 6, it's mustered only a .691 OPS and
3.9 runs per game.The beginnings of a strong offense are there??amely, Santana,
Rhys Hoskins, Maikel Franco and Odubel Herrera. What the Phillies lack are big
boppers to tie it all together.That's where Harper and Machado would come in.
The latter is working on a career-best .908 OPS with 37 home runs. Even in a
down year, Harper has an .885 OPS and 34 homers. His pinnacle, of course, was
his 2015 National League MVP season in which he had one of the greatest
offensive yearsever.Adding both Harper and Machado would be a hell of a way for
the Phillies to close the gap between themselves and the Atlanta Braves in the
NL East. And the chance to chase rings could be just as important in luring
Harper and Machado as the money.To boot
Authentic Jarvis Landry Jersey , each might like the idea of hitting at Citizens Bank Park.No other National League stadium is more friendly to home run
hitters than the Phillies' home turf. That should be of interest to Harper and
Machado.To wit, consider how the non-homer fly balls and line drives they've hit
at home would have fared in Philadelphia:Image courtesy of
BaseballSavant.MLB.comImage courtesy of BaseballSavant.MLB.comExtra power is a
nice enough thing in its own right. But in this case, it could prove to be an
avenue to even greater riches for both players.Although both are sure to sign
long-term contracts (say, 10 years or so) this winter, they're young enough to
command early opt-outs through which they could re-enter the open market while
still in their primes. A few 40-homer seasons in Philadelphia would only enhance
the viability of such opt-outs.The Dodgers can't offer Harper and Machado a
similarly hitter-friendly ballpark to hit in. The Yankees can, although theirs
skews more friendly to Harper because of its short right field porch. Besides,
the Yankees might take the presence of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel
Andujar as a cue to spend on free agents they actually need.If all these factors
result in Harper and Machado doing an NBA-style team-up and transforming the
Phillies into legitimate World Series contenders, one question must ultimately
be asked:Is this, you know,good for baseball?Patrick McDermott/Getty
ImagesWhether superteams are good for the National Basketball Association is a
subject of much debate. Sure, the hype they generate is a positive. But is the
parity they kill an equal or greater negative?There might be a similar debate in
the baseball world if the Phillies drop hundreds of millions of dollars to sign
the two best players on the free-agent market. However, it'll be harder to come
down on the negative than it is in the NBA superteam debate.Baseball and
basketball are different beasts. In basketball, one or two superstars can make a
world of difference. In baseball, less so. There are 25 men on a team
Authentic Bradley Chubb Jersey , and even the best can only do so much to create wins. Shohei Ohtani aside, great hitters can't pitch, and great pitchers
can't hit.It's also clear by now that there isn't a 1-1 correlation between
money spent and success achieved. Despite spendingbillions, the Yankees havewon
a single World Series since 2001. The Dodgers have spent over $1 billion just
since 2013, and it's earned them only one trip to the World Series.Such is life
in an era in which MLB contenders are built more on the backs of cheap homegrown
stars than on pricey free agents. It's an effective and efficient model, albeit
one with an ominous dark side: players aren't getting as big a slice of the pie
as they used to.Therein lies a potential benefit of the Phillies signing Harper
and Machado. If they give both players record-setting deals, perhaps the MLB
Players Association won't be angling for war with the league in the next round
of collective bargaining talks. Or, at least, not a war big and nasty enough to
force a work stoppage.This is not to suggest that everybody should start rooting
for Harper and Machado to go to Philadelphia. It's merely something to watch out
for and to not be afraid of.Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and Baseball
Savant. CLEVELAND (AP) — His red socks pulled high to his knees, Jim Thome
pointed his bat outward in his well-known stance before taking a swing and one
last trip around the bases in a ballpark where his number is now on permanent
display.On Saturday, the Cleveland Indians retired Thome’s No. 25 honoring the
Hall of Fame slugger during an emotional pregame ceremony before hosting the
Baltimore Orioles — another of the six teams he played for from 1991 to 2012.The
festivities were capped with Thome, the major league walk-off home run leader
(13), taking that final trot around the bases with his son, Landon, before being
mobbed by his former teammates at home plate.His jersey number will be
permanently displayed in the upper deck of Progressive Field between fellow Hall
of Famers Bob Lemon’s 21 and Larry Doby’s 14
http://www.denverbroncosteamonline.com/bradley-chubb-jersey , and just above where many of his 337 homers landed while becoming Cleveland’s
career home run leader.“To have my jersey retired gives me the chills,” Thome
said. “To see my number hanging in the rafters in the company of Bob Feller, Lou
Boudreau, Jackie Robinson, Mel Harder, Larry Doby, Earl Averill, Bob Lemon and
Frank Robinson, I don’t really know what to say. That’s some ‘Field of Dreams’
stuff right there.”Along with Landon, Thome was joined by his wife Andrea,
daughter Lila and father Chuck. His former teammates and managers were on hand
too, including Omar Vizquel, Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Charlie Manuel and
Mike Hargrove.“To this day
Womens Bradley Chubb Jersey , these guys are my brothers and I’m so touched that you all would take the time to come today,” Thome said.Players from
both teams were in the dugout for the pregame ceremony, with Indians players
wearing high socks mimicking Thome’s distinct look.Before his retired number was
unveiled, the team also presented Thome with two original Jacobs Field seats
representing the two jersey numbers — 6 and 25 — that he wore as a member of the
club, as well as a massive, 25-shaped photograph mosaic featuring pictures of
the slugger throughout his career.The Hall of Famer already has a statue on the
Progressive Field concourse that was unveiled during the 2014 season. That same
summer, Thome’s number was unofficially retired when Jason Giambi surprised him
by giving it up after Thome signed a one-day contract to retire with the team.
No other player has worn the number since.It’s been a summer of celebrations for
Thome, who was enshrined in Cooperstown last month. He was honored last week by
the Chicago White Sox and will be honored by the Minnesota Twins next
Saturday.Through 22 MLB seasons, Thome batted .276 and hit 612 home runs,
putting him eighth on the all-time home run list. But his 13 years in Cleveland
were when Thome had some of his best moments and memories.Thome broke in with
the Indians as a third baseman in 1991. He was part of a young group of talented
players who helped the Indians end a 41-year playoff drought and make the World
Series in 1995 and 1997.Along with leading the club in home runs, Thome is also
the club’s career leader in walks (1,008) and is second in career RBIs (937).
His powerful swing helped the club rise from perennial laughingstock to one of
baseball’s best teams in the 1990s.“The 90s were exciting times in baseball, and
there was no place better than the corner of Ontario and Carnegie,” Thome said.
“This organization from top to bottom is first class all the way. I was so proud
to go into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Cleveland Indians.”
