The Pittsburgh Pirates: A Darker Side To Revenue Sharing

Considering this week’s “Everything Must Go at Rock Bottom Prices” sale by the Pittsburgh Pirates, it’s time to re-evaluate the status of the salary cap in Major League Baseball. Looking at last year’s top three spenders (Yankees, Mets, and Tigers), does anything strike you as bizarre? That’s right—none of those three teams made the playoffs, and the Tigers finished dead last in the AL Central. The thriftiest teams last year were the Oakland A’s, Tampa Bay Rays, and Florida Marlins. While the A’s were horrible, finishing 24.5 games out of first place, the Marlins finished with a winning record, and the Rays even made it to the World Series, not to mention winning 97 games, good for second best in the majors. Money doesn’t necessarily buy a good team. The Yankees and Mets are known for going out and throwing money at free agents. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Marlins and Rays extensively use their farm systems. By...