Angels Get Big Raise in Allowance (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angels6dec06.story) - Los Angeles Times, 12/6/02

QuikQuote: The Angels' quest to repeat as World Series champions will be fully funded by the Walt Disney Co. Even as Disney tries to sell the Angels, the company has approved a steep increase in player payroll that will allow the team to keep most of its championship roster intact.
The $84-million budget represents more than all but seven clubs spent last season. And, at a time when most clubs are freezing or slashing budgets, Disney has approved a 43% jump in player payroll over the past two seasons. The Angels' payroll last season was $62 million.

This is an interesting maneuver. When the Marlins won the series in 1987, the idea was to dismantle the team and payroll to make it more attractive to a bidder. Lower payroll was considered more attractive. The team has never recovered and I'm sure the fans in Florida have been staying away in droves since the new owners purchased.

Now, we are seeing the opposite. Keep the team together, a world champion, and market the team as legitimate contender. Big fan base, tons of merchandise, full houses through at least next year. I hope this is the wave of the future in baseball.

Originally posted by EandCDad
When the Marlins won the series in 1987

Oh, that's right, The Marlins were the first team ever to win the WS years before they were ever in existence. ;) :p :D

I generally get uneasy about teams who raise their payrolls like this, but I too find it to be an interesting move, and an improvement to ownership holding a fire sale.

Originally posted by MickeyD
Oh, that's right, The Marlins were the first team ever to win the WS years before they were ever in existence. ;) :p :D


D'oh!