MLB can Eliminate 2-Teams After 2006 Season

The league has the right to eliminate two teams after the 2006 season, and per the current collective bargaining agreement, the Major League Baseball Players' Association has given up its right to contest the unilateral move.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1947231


So who do you think will get eliminated?

If I had to guess the Washington team with no owner and city at the moment, and I'm not sure who the other team would be?

Is there a team that is on the verge of bankruptcy?

Maybe the Marlins?

After the Washington franchise, the most likely teams I would think to be contracted would be:

1. Devil Rays
2. Marlins
3. Brewers
4. Blue Jays
5. Twins

The Twins would be higher, but it looks like they are going to get a new city-funded stadium approved. The other four teams are clearly struggling behind the rest of the league in attendance and revenue.

After the Washington franchise, the most likely teams I would think to be contracted would be:

1. Devil Rays
2. Marlins
3. Brewers
4. Blue Jays
5. Twins

The Twins would be higher, but it looks like they are going to get a new city-funded stadium approved. The other four teams are clearly struggling behind the rest of the league in attendance and revenue.
Selig will never allow the Brewers to be contracted.

They won't touch the Jays.

Canada is a market of over 30,000,000. Now that Montreal is gone, it would be ridiculous to ax the Jays. And Toronto's on the verge of contending in the coming years with arguably one of the top 3 to 5 systems in baseball.

And Toronto's on the verge of contending in the coming years with arguably one of the top 3 to 5 systems in baseball.
None of that matters. Selig wanted to contract the Twins, who were at the time a 2nd place team with a young roster, one that was better than the Jays are now.

None of that matters. Selig wanted to contract the Twins, who were at the time a 2nd place team with a young roster, one that was better than the Jays are now.
Anything's possible.

Selig's a ******.

As much as it pains me to say this....

Selig > Bettman

As much as it pains me to say this....

Selig > Bettman

Moldy piece of bread > Bettman

As much as it pains me to say this....

Selig > Bettman

Taglibue > Stern > Selig > NASCAR guy(this sports explosion has been insane) > MLS Guy(people thought it was DOA, but its slowly making a climb) > Bettman

After the Washington franchise, the most likely teams I would think to be contracted would be:

1. Devil Rays
2. Marlins
3. Brewers
4. Blue Jays
5. Twins

The Twins would be higher, but it looks like they are going to get a new city-funded stadium approved. The other four teams are clearly struggling behind the rest of the league in attendance and revenue.

They Jays have stable ownership however and decent attendance.. and a large market as stated.. I don't see it happening but one never knows.

washington

tampa bay
florida


kc
pittsburgh

Washington is almost a guarantee to get contracted in 2006. It's a good bet that another NL team is also contracted, and that'll make 14 teams even in each league. I'd say maybe Pittsburgh or Florida. I would take Milwaukee personally, but that won't happen.

d rays and washington or the marlins

Consensus seems to think Tampa Bay is the safe bet, and I agree. I've been to one or two D-Rays games when I was in Tampa. That team couldn't draw flies if there was seagull turds on the field.

You contract Washington-Montreal, and move Arizona to the American League, you have 14 teams in each league. According to the expansion agreement that Colangelo has with MLB, the league has the right to move them to the American League.

The only way to get Tampa Bay contracted is to kill Vince Namoli which would make everybody happy. The problem with Tampa Bay and Miami is that most people play baseball (or softball) here that nobody wants to pay money to watch a game when they can play a game for free. Also the fact that why spend so much money on a game when you can go to Disney World for alittle bit more or go to the beach for free.

Washington is a good bet, for the Marlins it depends on if Loria would want to move a team to LV or DC or take the money. While the MLB has the right to contract two teams the remaining owners have to buy the team they want to contract so just because MLB wants to contract 2 teams doesn't mean they will.

Besides, the CBA ends in 2006 also, with the way things are looking contracting a team might be the last thing on their mind, they are more screwed up than hockey.

washington

tampa bay
florida


kc
pittsburgh

I don't think there's anyway Pittsburgh goes. They just built a new stadium.

If that crooked SOB Selig wasn't running the league, then Milwaukee should go. Yeah, they built, scratch that, stole a new stadium, but their franchise still sucks, and they STILL can't get people to go to games.

Besides, the CBA ends in 2006 also, with the way things are looking contracting a team might be the last thing on their mind, they are more screwed up than hockey.

I'd be upset if the MLB locked the players out in 2006. In fact, more then anything, I noticed a real recovery in the popularity of baseball the past season and a half. They're finally healing from the wounds of the 1994 strike and it would be a terrible mistake to have another one.

Contraction is just a bargaining chip and it will not likely happen (just like it didn't happen last time it was discussed. But in the unlikely event it does happen, here's the criteria that would be used:

a. Bad stadium and/or stadium lease
b. Owner - who wants out or is losing lots of money
c. No tradition - they won't contract Pittsburgh with 100+ years of tradition
d. Bad Team/Low Attendance

Based on this criteria, the short list would be:

1. Washington/Montreal - a,b,c,d
2. Tampa Bay - a,b,c,d
3. Florida - a,b,c,d
4. Oakland - a,b
5. Minnesota - a,b,
6. KC - b,d

According to the expansion agreement that Colangelo has with MLB, the league has the right to move them to the American League.
After the WS in 2001, Selig was thinking about moving Arizona to the AL. I remember people were pissed off at the idea because that would mean never seeing another Yankees/D'Backs WS again.

Contraction is just a bargaining chip and it will not likely happen (just like it didn't happen last time it was discussed. But in the unlikely event it does happen, here's the criteria that would be used:

a. Bad stadium and/or stadium lease
b. Owner - who wants out or is losing lots of money
c. No tradition - they won't contract Pittsburgh with 100+ years of tradition
d. Bad Team/Low Attendance

Based on this criteria, the short list would be:

1. Washington/Montreal - a,b,c,d
2. Tampa Bay - a,b,c,d
3. Florida - a,b,c,d
4. Oakland - a,b
5. Minnesota - a,b,
6. KC - b,d


Tropicana Field isnt a bad stadium...is their lease up?

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/10418038.htm

You can likely take category A off for the Twins.

There is 24 years left on the Tropicana Field lease

Tropicana Field is a great stadium for Florida. Most people who don't like it haven't been inside it. You try watching baseball in 100F weather or having a rainout 2 out of 3 nights.

Also the Devilrays don't have an owner who wants out, they were just sold 8 months ago.

If anything the Devil Rays would break the lease and move to a retractable roof stadium on the waterfront in Tampa.

Pittsburgh won't go anywhere. You don't just up and contract a 119 year old franchise with a brand new ballpark.

In no specific order id say Milwaukee should go(but they have a new ballpark so thats doubtful)Oakland should either be contracted or moved to say Las Vegas because its discusting to see the guys theyve lost to trade and FA over the last 4 years due to budgetary constraints(Giambi,Damon,Tejada,Isringhausen,Foulk e,Hudson,R.Hernandez off the top of my head)
Tampa Bay plain sucks and nobody goes to games,i read that the Stadium is like a Cave and should be demolished.
Montreal/Washington should just fold and divey up there 3 good players to whomever.
I think in the longrun it would really help the game,talent is kind of watered down(especailly pitching w/ 30 teams)

There is 24 years left on the Tropicana Field lease

Tropicana Field is a great stadium for Florida. Most people who don't like it haven't been inside it. You try watching baseball in 100F weather or having a rainout 2 out of 3 nights.

I understand having a dome is needed in the Tampa area due to weather issues, but that stadium has all the atmosphere of a morgue (Yes, I've been there - it's the only stadium I've been to worse than Shea). Of course, the fact Tampa has yet to be even medicore hasn't helped and playing in a division with Boston and NY makes it unlikely they'll compete anytime in the near future.

Wasn't there talk last time about combining two Florida franchises and putting them in Orlando or something like that?

Wasn't there talk last time about combining two Florida franchises and putting them in Orlando or something like that?

Havent heard those rumors, but that would be pretty good stuff.Tossing Baldelli, Crawford and Huff to the Marlins

1 Devil Rays
2 Marlins

You'll see !