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Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:13 pm
by RonCo
Free Agency is nearly upon us, and while there are a lot of twists and turns, and aces in the hole yet to be played, some folks are sitting back and looking at the world through the simple eyes of cash. Who, they say, will have the money to make moves? And who, they then wonder, are in a position to need to?

From a fans-eye view, the answer to the last question is always a big “my team,” though GMs don’t always share that view. When we take a look at our BBA teams using their current payrolls and their respective budgets, however, we can get a starting place for where teams might be.

Boise, for example, looks to be cash-rich—leading the league at $73M under budget (of course, they still need to pay for staff and draft pick bonuses and whatever…but you get the idea. Boise is a young team both in player age and in existence. They may not be quite ready to stomp on the pedal right yet.

Charm City might be a different question. The Jimmies have been lying low recently, accumulating their resources. They’re almost ready to burst on the scene again, and with something nearing $60M to play with, one suspects that the right candidate might open up the checkbook. Louisville, too, looks to have some cash to throw around, and new GM Stephen Shaw is a bit of an unknown in BBA circles. Will he jump in, or play it cagey?

Hawaii, Atlantic City, Vancouver, Montreal, Wichita, and Huntsville fill the next slots. All of them are in different situations, but several seem to be in positions to leverage the right resource into respectability. Hawaii, Montreal, Wichita, and Huntsville are my personal candidates, but yours might vary. I can make a case for Atlantic City, and Vancouver has enough kid-power around to make a splash possible.

Only at number 10 and 11 on the list do we hit our first established winners in Seattle and non-dynasty Jacksonville [grin].

Bottom line is that over half the league has as much as $20M to spend. Mexico City, Yellow Springs, and San Fernando sit at $12-$16M. Des Moines reads $10M, but their budget is so low they probably can’t play in the game unless they use PPT to buy it up.

It’s the calm before the storm, though. Front offices around the league are sitting quietly right now, very few giving indications of what they might be thinking.

It should be fun to watch what happens.

Team Payroll Current Budget Available
Boise Spuds $34,875,000 $108,000,000 $73,125,000
Charm City Jimmies $47,100,000 $106,000,000 $58,900,000
Louisville Sluggers $53,157,500 $110,000,000 $56,842,500
Hawaii Tropics $30,113,500 $78,000,000 $47,886,500
Atlantic City Gamblers $64,211,500 $110,000,000 $45,788,500
Vancouver Mounties $48,266,500 $94,000,000 $45,733,500
Montreal Blazers $64,632,750 $114,000,000 $45,367,250
Wichita Aviators $67,667,500 $114,000,000 $42,332,500
Huntsville Phantoms $80,150,000 $120,000,000 $29,850,000
Seattle Storm $80,745,000 $136,000,000 $29,255,000
Jacksonville Hurricanes $82,176,000 $128,000,000 $27,824,000
Nashville Goats $82,527,500 $108,000,000 $25,472,500
California Crusaders $84,755,000 $156,000,000 $25,245,000
New Orleans Crawdads $86,776,000 $132,000,000 $23,224,000
San Antonio Outlaws $87,855,000 $130,000,000 $22,145,000
Madison Wolves $89,859,000 $116,000,000 $20,141,000
Mexico City Aztecs $91,827,500 $108,000,000 $16,172,500
Yellow Springs Nine $97,125,000 $142,000,000 $12,875,000
San Fernando Bears $98,190,000 $132,000,000 $11,810,000
Des Moines Kernels $76,175,000 $87,000,000 $10,825,000
Phoenix Talons $102,092,000 $114,000,000 $7,908,000
Las Vegas Hustlers $102,975,000 $120,000,000 $7,025,000
Brooklyn Robins $86,432,500 $93,000,000 $6,567,500
Long Beach Surfers $103,653,000 $148,000,000 $6,347,000
Omaha Hawks $103,815,000 $144,000,000 $6,185,000
Edmonton Jackrabbits $104,241,625 $110,000,000 $5,758,375
Valencia Stars $84,861,500 $90,000,000 $5,138,500
Calgary Pioneers $107,377,500 $150,000,000 $2,622,500
Twin Cities River Monsters $109,128,750 $120,000,000 $871,250
Rockville Pikemen $110,756,500 $148,000,000 ($756,500)

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:52 pm
by usnspecialist
I can tell you that san Fernando will NOT be big spenders. I would have to check, but heading into my 8th off-season now I don't think I have signed an FA deal that hit 8 figures/year and was worth more than $20m guaranteed total.

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:55 pm
by handaspencer
Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Have already spent a few hours today thinking do I make an offer? if so how much etc... Or do I even want to participate in FA and spend my money in different ways. I wish I had a magic ball to help me with this haha.

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:00 pm
by bcslouck
I plan to add to the budget too. :)

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:10 pm
by usnspecialist
handaspencer wrote:
Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:55 pm
Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Have already spent a few hours today thinking do I make an offer? if so how much etc... Or do I even want to participate in FA and spend my money in different ways. I wish I had a magic ball to help me with this haha.
There is no one right way to build a team but there are a LOT of ways FA can go wrong. Sometimes it truly does bring that one missing piece (Aaron signing Enrique Gomez is the best example of that), but bidding wars rarely end well.

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:29 pm
by handaspencer
usnspecialist wrote:
Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:10 pm
handaspencer wrote:
Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:55 pm
Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Have already spent a few hours today thinking do I make an offer? if so how much etc... Or do I even want to participate in FA and spend my money in different ways. I wish I had a magic ball to help me with this haha.
There is no one right way to build a team but there are a LOT of ways FA can go wrong. Sometimes it truly does bring that one missing piece (Aaron signing Enrique Gomez is the best example of that), but bidding wars rarely end well.
I think in my position is I have so many options and directions I can go. I can almost guarantee Montreal won't be making a big splash the timing is not right yet. The one thing I want to accomplish is remain profitable and spend most of my budget by seasons end. Not utilizing your available budget is missing out on ways to improve the team. My owner already has a yacht he don't need another one.

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:33 pm
by RonCo
It's always tough to be patient. And every year is different. Sometimes teams come out of the gate blazing (I'm looking at you Calvaruso!) and that means you have to get your best shot done now...other times the league seems a little more tepid, waiting for prices to go down.

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 2:17 pm
by Rubaboo
I'm rarely a believer in big spending in FA. For me, it has to be the right player at the right time. Normally I go big on a guy when I'm just coming out of a rebuild and ready to hit the launch button. This year does not fit that mold and with a pile of guys needing to be extended at some point I may dip a toe on a bargain but you won't see me on the diving board above the FA pool this year.

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 2:29 pm
by Ted
California probably wont be spending either. Ramos, Gracia, and Mercado are all free agents after this season. I'll have some 45 mil in space after this year, which hopefully can get the job done. (Although Gracia wants 26 AAV right now and Ramos wants 27(.

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 2:53 pm
by recte44
I have my eye on a player but the price has to be just right, and we all know how that story ends.

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:12 pm
by HoosierVic
I signed a couple of guys to minor league contracts today, and I have my eye on one fairly modest FA - but I've got a strict budget set up and I'm not going to violate it. I want to fly well under cap this season, get my finances squared back away, and hit my owner's financial goal.

Besides, after reading all of Ted's excellent series, I can't in good conscience go after pricey free agents with all guns a-blazin' ...

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 4:25 am
by JimBob2232
HoosierVic wrote:
Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:12 pm
I signed a couple of guys to minor league contracts today, and I have my eye on one fairly modest FA - but I've got a strict budget set up and I'm not going to violate it. I want to fly well under cap this season, get my finances squared back away, and hit my owner's financial goal.

Besides, after reading all of Ted's excellent series, I can't in good conscience go after pricey free agents with all guns a-blazin' ...
And as the pendulum swings one way, there is often great value in the other...

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:09 am
by GoldenOne
Ted wrote:
Wed Jun 12, 2019 2:29 pm
California probably wont be spending either.
Shocker. :D

Re: Who Will Be the Big Spenders in 2039?

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 12:08 pm
by StormZ_23
Last off-season I had no money to spend, so this is my first real free agency period. I can say I've made a few offers already.