eating Gaudin and Vizcaino’s contracts?

Whether he owns them or not

… he wants the millions in revenue (apparel sales, sponsorship, increased gate) that would surely follow a WS win… the purchase of this team is highly leveraged against credit, and the sooner he can start seeing a return, the better.

Think about the post WS Red Sox… you think dude would be upset with all those extra hats being sold?

you are stating as facts datails nobody outside the organization and at the front of the transcation know. Please stick to facts.

Since the owner needs to have a positive portfolio to be allowed to make decisions about bettering the on field quality, renovations to Wrigley and anythign else that the owner(s) decide they want to do.

The wealth profile of the Ricketts is irrelevant

The Ricketts are purchasing the Cubs, partly to preside over a model franchise that wins ballgames but also driven by profit motive. They aren’t buying the Cubs as philanthropic endeavor. They are going to want a positive return on investment over time, to include eventually operating with a positive cash flow each year. A nearly $1 billion pricetag combined with a sizeable annual debt service is going to put definite pressure on payroll. The Cubs are already maximizing many revenue sources and it will take time to create new ones (like the talked about network, museum, etc.)

Marc Cuban for prime example has gone on record of saying that you cannot own a team and expect to make money, it is a hobby. You hope to break even, and must have revenue coming from elsewhere. I tend to believe a multi billionaires opinion about this (especially when he owns a team as well) in comparision to the opinions here, not out of disrespet to anyone here, but based on the facts that Cuban is speaking from experience.

You are posting as if you have direct insight to their financial forcast, and what their drive toown the Cubs happens to be. Can you please direct me to where you get this information and knowledge?

If you are speculating, sure that is fine, but make sure you do not state your speculations as fact. Misleading people is what can cause problems, and loss of respect towards your post.

this is all the more reason to keep people like Bobby Scales around, right? Sean Marshall is cost controlled. Riot, Fontenot, Scales, Wells, Soto, all are cost controlled.

It’s possible to put a team together that’s less expensive AND can win.

However, I would expect that the Ricketts know the status of all the Cubs’ players contracts — probably far better than any of us — and are probably in a position to tread water for a few years, to see what happens with Harden, Lee, Rami, Bradley, Dome and Soriano.

The family’s wealth is totally relevant to both the teams’ purchase and the subsequent payroll and ball park improvements. First, if they don’t have the cash and assets up front – especially in this economy – they don’t even get to buy the team. Second, if they don’t maintain a certain level of cash flow, the ball park doesn’t get improved and they will have to reduce payroll growth.

now. It’s not like the bankruptcy of Tribune is allowing the Cubs to renegotiate contracts with the players. I don’t see why doing it as fast as possible would bother them.

I was being snarky and taunting my friend for his style. He’s been beating the drum on his read on how the debt load will, not may have a negative impact on the team financials. His first comment in this post was slanted more toward may, but my tolerance for his delivery is pretty short these days.

Am I always an ass, I don’t believe so, but could be wrong (and we’re not going to ask my wife to vote).

His assumptions on how the sale and financing by the new buyer will have a noticable, negative, impact on the running of the club and how the current organization has maximized available revenue sources are valid opinions. However, when reminded none of us know enough to state these as fact, we are sent to our rooms as pollyanna fans of happy thoughts.

I did intend to engage Mike in the discussion on guess versus fact and utilized a sharp poke to bring him out swinging. I did not intend to offend others.