Let’s talk a bit about loyalty.
Should the Red Sox sign Mark Teixeira, (we should know before Christmas), it could have long-lasting ramifications for the Red Sox, not just on the field.
Mike Lowell took three years last off-season from the Sox because he wanted to stay in Boston. It’s much the same reasoning that spurred Bronson Arroyo to ink a below-market deal to stay in Boston.
As we all know, Arroyo was then dispatched to Cincinnati for Wily Mo Pena. Likewise, Lowell could be out the door despite his loyalty (he had a four-year offer on the table for a similar annual salary from the Philadelphia Phillies).
If Lowell is indeed booted to make room for Tex, what does that say about Boston? What does it say about their commitment to their players? What does it say about their disregard for the player’s best interests at heart? They took advantage of Arroyo; they may have taken advantage of Lowell. They knew these players wanted to stay, so they jumped on the opportunity.
The Sox may find themselves burned in the future as players come to realize what signing at a discount in Boston means.
I get that it’s a business.
It can be a cold one sometimes.
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I agree, Evan, the Sox need to show more loyalty to their players if they really haven’t been, but perhaps things go on behind-the-scenes that we don’t hear about…Perhaps Theo and Tito have had conversations with Lowell about this….We have no way of knowing.
Totally agree Evan. Signing Teix at the expense of Mike exposes the fattening and weakening underbelly of RSN, making us look more like the ham-fisted, win-at-all-cost Yankees. We are not there yet, but have come a looong way from America’s beloved 2004 heroes.
I for one am saddened by that, and would like that aura to return rather than developing into the Yanks which have to pay premiums for players to come to Boston. That means being loyal to our players (signing Youk, Paps, Lester, etc.) and honoring Mike’s loyalty.
If we sign Teix we can find a way to keep Mike and Youk and Papi (I can’t believe the crass trade talk about these incredible WS heroes). Theo & co. would do this for “business” reasons because Mike’s unproven hip make him less than $12,500,000 trade bait. IF we sign Teix, we can keep Mike, let him fully heal, see how it plays out, see who gets hurt, as we did with Coco and Ells. This is in the best interest of RSN, and the best interest of the bottom line in which Mike’s value is rebuilt.
Very good point Evan, the only real difference between the two situations I can see is that Arroyo knew he wanted to come back, Lowell looked around and took a few offers before choosing to come back.
There is no loyalty in a buisness. If the Sox can improve and continue to get young they should. People need to realize that. Does it suck? Sure, but reality is the team will be better.
Great post Evan
Loyalty in this business is one that ironicly leads to disappointments. Theo said goodbye to the likes of Nomar, Damon, Pedro, Lowe, Millar, Nixon. All players that I wanted to see stay! They have plans to replace everyone appropriatly. I’m not sure that Teixeira would be apart of that plan. This plan is one that’s been in the works for years now. Not one that was just hatched in recent anticipation for this years free agent market. I doubt they will sumberge there existing plans and show so little faith in their current position.
Theo, I know you think we’re better than this.
I dunno Brandon, I think Lowell was going to come back no matter what, he just shopped around because a) he could and b) he wanted three years from the Sox, not two.
Arroyo was not close to free agency.
I guess I’m still skeptical about signing Teixeira. It sounds great and all. Just not sure I’m ready to say goodbye to Mr. Mike Lowell. He’s a fine 3rd basemen and we’re lucky to have him.
Not so, J. Good business is based upon relationships, building client support, supplier support, and employee support. Good work is rewarded.
Granted, some short-sighted CF0’s and HR execs led a short-lived and failed revolution to to meet quarterly expectations by slashing and burning at all levels. But most of them are either milked their companies to join the 2% super rich, landed in jail, or are unemployed and wondering what happened. Most B-schools admit that this outmoded business model has destroyed entire industries, cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, and contributed to this recession.
To transfer the same arrogant, top-down, failed techniques from Wall St., Madison Av., Detroit and banking to baseball is foolish. Even the Steinbrenners, who wield money as a big bat, take care of their people well beyond the big contracts. The Rays are also trying to take care of their players, and Just look at who is lining up to play there.
“Business is Business” is the lamest excuse for poor management of the late 20th century, and fortunately the 21st century has clearly shown why it is outmoded. An old saying of successful business was “take care of your people and they will take care of you” looks like it is making a comeback, and i hope Theo is aware of this.
I think you’re all kind of crazy. What about the 2004 Sox reminded you of “loyalty”? How many of the key players from that year were farm-raised, or had even been on the team for an extended period of time? I mean, Christ, we brought in Schilling that year, and specifically because we’d seen such good results against the Yankees in Arizona. Our closer was new, our slugger was new… and the most important move of the entire year, the very move that led us to ultimately win it all, was getting rid of our star farm-raised short stop for a hill of beans. And you’re talking about the value of loyalty? The only value that gets star players to sign with your team, and gets great players like Dustin Pedroia to sign with you for undermarket value, is to win. And keep winning. And players like Mark Teixeira and Dustin Pedroia understand that winning doesn’t care about loyalty, it cares about results.
It’s an interesting topic. Alfonzo makes a great point that winning does indeed cure all. Everybody is happy when we are winning. And Theo’s job is to build a team that can keep winning. Sometimes that means letting players go if they could possibly keep us from that goal. While you always hate to see it happen, when it does have to be done it can be done in a classy and respectful manner. As a fan I expect that of our front office. I expect them to win, but I also expect class. And I think they have done at least a fair job of that in the past. Tito especially does a fantastic job of working with the players and making sure they feel respected and comfortable here. Occasionally we have some problems dealing with players (Manny anyone?). But above all, despite what the media or some of our slightly insane former team members may say, I think we have done a pretty good job of running a classy, respectful, AND very successful organization.
It’s a problem every sports team faces when the performance of popular stars declines. (And most of the stars want to be paid as much as or more than when they were at peak performance.)
Watching Lowell in 2008 was painful. When he got a hit, he could barely hobble to first base. When he was fielding, he had no lateral or vertical motion. He may be a little healthier in 2009, but he will also be another year older.
A relationship goes both ways. The Red Sox are a championship caliber team. To remain so, players need to be at least capable of contributing at a championship level in a starting or supporting role. The margin for error is pretty thin. In 2008, a little better performance out of the bull pen ,or a Texeira instead of a Lowell, and the Red Sox might have repeated as world champs.
Mike Lowell has been significantly above average once out of the last 4 years.
Gret post, Evan.
For me, the problem is we are sending the clear message that taking a discount to play in Boston, just makes you more tradeable. When you do it for fixing a hole, and adressing a need, at least it has the logic of the interest of the team, but when you in fact are not filling holes, but are replacing guys who have contributed to the team, just because a bigger name has become available, then the thing looks uglier. Specially if there is cheaper and more efficient ways of upgrading the team. At least when we traded Arroyo, we had a surplus of pitching. The case of Lowell looks worst IMO. A team has to upgrade, but when possible is better to look in upgrading without having to ressort to this metods. Methods that undermine your image before the players.
In sum, I understand the logic of the business, but I still think there was better ways to deal with this particular situation. Let’s hope in the future Pedroia will not regret the huge discount he has make to the team, if Chase Utley becomes available or something like that.
“Nice guys finish last.”
Loyalty is a two-way street. If the Red Sox want loyalty from players, they have to deserve it, which means they have to make every effort to win. Conversely, if the players want the team to be loyal to them, they have to produce on the field. Otherwise, we get a bunch of “nice guys” on the field and management that doesn’t want to upset them, which will quickly translate into disappointment.
In this situation, retaining a declining Lowell could actually cost the team loyalty from its other players if they think the team isn’t trying to win. Making aggressive moves that demonstrate a willingness to step on individuals’ toes for the team’s greater good actually engenders more loyalty.
I felt badly when Arroyo was traded, but in exchange for the home-town discount, he should have asked for a no-trade clause, as should any player in a similar situation.
Loyalty? Ha!
Arroyo was traded because, rumor has it, he slept with Manny’s wife. Manny being Manny wouldn’t play if Arroyo was in that clubhouse.
Great points. Never heard that about Arroyo being Arroyo.
Here’s another one. When you put Mike’s or any other contract in print it looks like this $12,500,000.00 per YEAR. That would be like winning the lottery 4 times every year, plus buying a 40′ sailboat, his & hers luxury cars, private plane, and heated indoor pool, every year. Hello. Recession?
Would anyone else, for an ANNUAL $4,000,000.00 or $9,000,000.00 or $12,500,000.00 or $14,000,000.00 or $20,000,000.00, be willing to play baseball on a polar ice cap in a Speedo and Crocs for 6 months x 5 years? Anyone who just got downsized, laid off, cut back, lost their business or home????? We could fill a whole league or two.
The loyalty issue is very important to maintaining a group of players, staff and fans who WANT to work together to win, and enjoy doing so. Most of us are convinced the $$$ for players, seats and sausage is just too crazy. Loyalty aside, these players won’t suffer too much by being traded to a team not in Antarctica.