Posts by Day: Monday, October 27, 2008

The Washington National Major League Baseball team has fans scratching their heads. When the Lerner family purchased the team, it was understood that the team would be rebuilt from the ground up. So spending money for players was expected. However, there are questions as to how well the money was spent.

In 2008, the Nationals paid $55million on salaries for players. This placed them 26th of 30 teams in the amount of dollars spent for players. Economical? Yes. Wise? The facts speak for themselves. The organization is paying $9.2 million alone to two players, a shortstop and first baseman. Another $14 million is being divided among numerous players on the disabled list. $13.5 million is being shelled out for five players unconditionally released from the team. That is a total of $27.5 million going to players who are not playing due to injuries or because they are no longer with the team. That is more than the salaries of the remaining 25 players combined. What is wrong with this picture? The Nationals cannot be blamed for injuries that have plagued their team. However, they didn't have to buy a player who was already pretty beaten up. Four free agents were signed who were unproductive.

Supposedly, some purchases were made that will not help the team immediately but will hopefully pan out in the long run. So the powers that be are content to give up the opportunity for a pennant or World Series go for this year with hopes of making it next year or the next. The best that fans can hope for is that the Nationals' management spends the funds they have better in 2009 than they did this year. The Lerner family who owns the team likely feels the same.