From age 16 to 21, I worked on a golf course. I sat in the pro-shop all day answering phones, folding shirts, and most importantly kissing rear-ends. One sweltering July day, I watched as a member surveyed the shop’s offerings. He kept coming back to one shirt. He was holding it up to his chest, matching it to the shorts and shoes he had on, clearly this was the shirt he had been looking for. We’ve all been at that point. The first item that stands out usually comes at a steep price tag. This was no different. I could see him doing the mental gymnastics in his head to justify the purchase. “Did we find a winner?” I asked from behind the counter. “Yeah, but I think i’m gonna wait until October when this stuff goes on sale.”
There’s nothing wrong with shopping sales. We all have budgets, and it’s not smart to push the top end of them. But if we’re going to be thrifty, we have to accept some realities. The reason something went “on sale” is because they couldn’t sell it at full price. The store isn’t putting a discount on something because they really want you to have it and enjoy it. They’re doing it because they had no other choice. Also, in most cases, things cost more that are made of nicer components. This can aid comfort, durability, and longevity. With the exception of Kanye’s $80 dollar white tee shirt, usually theres a reason for the way things are priced. That golf shirt wasn’t there in October when that member came back for it. Someone else came in and decided it was worth that price and didn’t want to risk losing it.
That memory played over and over again in my head as details emerged on the White Sox’ pursuit of Manny Machado. His representatives laid out a very steep, but very simple price tag. 10 years, 300 million dollars. That’s a lot of golf shirts. The process dragged as 3 or 4 teams, including the White Sox, waited for the agent to panic and drop the price. They wanted him, thought he’d fit (get it?), but only if he was “on sale”. They got ultra-creative and created an incentive and option-laden contract. They were haggling.
“See, Manny, we’re not gonna give you what you want. But, this is what you SHOULD want! See how much better it is? If you hit at an unprecedented rate for a 34 year old, it’ll actually be worth MORE money! So, when do you want to announce your introductory press conference???”
Unsurprisingly, Manny never signed with the White Sox. He refused to put up the red-tag sale ads, and eventually the Padres came along and paid full-price. See, Manny Machado wasn’t priced at 300 million because he’s greedy. He was priced at 300 million because he’s made up of better stuff. I can count on half a hand how many players in baseball own Machado’s balance of defensive promise and consistent offensive production. He’s a generational talent, and deserved to get paid like one.
Thomas Jefferson said “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” Kenny Williams wanted fans to praise Jerry Reinsdorf for approving a contract that would have been the most expensive in the history of his ownership. Factually, he’s correct. But Jerry still hasn’t paid full market price for a premiere free agent, and that will continue to haunt the Chicago WhiteSox and will prohibit them from getting what they’ve never had: a consistent championship contender. Sure we can rest on the laurels of 2005 for a while, but this wasn’t billed as a “make the playoffs for the first time in 5 years, win once, and go back to being a perennial bottom-dweller” type rebuild. It was billed as “we’re going to build a team that will compete year-over-year” rebuild. Until you commit to paying full-market price for premiere free-agent talent, you’re destined to be what you’ve always been: an afterthought.
If you want to be a middle of the pack team, occasionally compete, and turn a clean profit year-over year; don’t go after top free-agents. If you’re content just dressing “okay” at the party, shop the sale rack. There’s nothing wrong with it, It’s all dependent on your goals. If your goal is to be the best dressed person on the golf course, don’t wait for the shirt to go on sale. If your goal is to win championships, don’t expect to get premiere players on sale.
-Jake Logli, SportsFan 1330