Before people start bashing the Dodgers for handing Greinke $150M let's not forget the Rangers ultimately spent $110M + on Yu Darvish. And you can't say the $50M posting fee doesn't count because it does.
Darvish is a few years younger but he was anything but a sure bet...

I'm not necessarily advocating spending $150M on a pitcher but they cost what they cost and IMO the Rangers rolled the dice more on Darvish than the Dodgers did on Greinke. **Please forgive me... I'm still bitter about losing out on Greinke.

Brings up an interesting question; if Darvish was a free agent right now, with the season he just had, what would he be worth? Would someone throw 5 yrs/$110M at him?

Washington Redskins
Baltimore Orioles under Peter Angelos prior to signing Buck Showalter.
Philadelphia Eagles.
Los Angeles Dodgers.
Late 1970s to early '90s NY Yankees.
The current NY Yankees.

History is full of teams trying to buy a Championship. The Yankees have managed to do it a couple of times, but, overall, putting that many stars into one clubhouse is a recipe for chemical disaster. Still, with the formula MLB uses for their Luxury Tax, the longer you stay over the threshold the higher the percentage the tax. Now, the Yankees have discovered that they can't afford to even be just a little over because the tax on them is HUGE. Their entire off season strategy the past two off seasons has been to buy players on one year deals so that, at the end of 2013, they will, officially, be under the Luxury Tax Threshold.

Once under that threshold for just one year, the penalty resets to base and the progression starts all over again. I expect that the Yankees will be buying everything in sight going into 2014 and after. They can afford the Luxury Tax - just not at the bloated rate it has gotten to be.

The Philadelphia Iggles were supposed to be "The Dream Team" of the NFL a couple of years ago after they went on a giant spending spree in the off season. They didn't even make the playoffs. Then, they didn't make the playoffs again. And, then again this year and their coach got fired.

The Orioles, since Peter Angelos took over, had the policy of buying any talent they felt they could afford. That didn't work out for them and, now that Buck Showalter is there, they are building their team "the right way"... from the farm system up.

Tampa Bay has proven teams that promote their own farmhands can be successful. Oakland, too. The reason they can't get "over the hump" is because they don't have the finances on hand to make that one "big splash" that really makes a difference. In fact, all they can afford to do is build their farm systems, promote their prospects, win a bit and then sell them off for more prospects because they can't afford to keep them.

The Rangers DO have the financial flexibility to make the prudent "big splash" when the need arises. They also have the financial wherewithal to, if they deem their guy worth it, pay their own guys to keep them in their stadium. The exception is if another team deems that Ranger property to be of such value that they overpay significantly for that player (i.e. LAAoA the past couple of years with C.J. & Josh).

Darvish was a prudent signing. Half the money went to his old team so he wasn't set up in a stratosphere where all he has to do is thow his glove on the field and he thinks he can win. Same with Beltre. Both are still paid, but they are paid in a way they still feel the need to prove their worth.

I think Berkman may be the signing of the off season. He didn't "break the bank" by any means and a lot of naysayers are saying things about his ability to fulfill his obligations that he now has something to prove.

If the guys are hungry, they will work. If they are pushed down, they will fight back. If they are put on a pedestal? Don't count too much on them in the future - their legacy has been defined and they have "arrived".

JD being prudent is the best thing that could happen to this franchise. Staying away from that Luxury Tax is something to be considered and, if possible, all effort made to accomplish that fete. Going over for a season or two wouldn't cripple this team... not being able to get back to it eventually would.

Let's let JD NOT buy the A-Rods and King Alberts of the world and give us the opportunity to be surprised by our success. It's a LOT more fun that way.

The Rangers' payroll in 2010 was a ridiculously low $55m; 4th lowest in the league. The Giants were 10th highest, just under $100m. Neither team that year was a moneywhipper.

i'm not suggesting the rangers get every free agent in sight like the 90s yankees did. i'm just wondering if it's really that bad to "overpay" for that one player who may keep the team contending?

"i'm just wondering if it's really that bad to "overpay" for that one player who may keep the team contending?"

It might be worth it. Depends on who it is, how much he costs, and how long is required to retain his services.

Here is a comparison of realistic-spending to over-spending. On the Rangers, would you rather have Adrian Beltre or Josh Hamilton. One contract is 5yr/$80m the other 5yr/$125m. The difference is $45m, so far simple math.That $45m in another comparison is OVER 70% OF THE ENTIRE TAMPA BAY 2012 TEAM BUDGET OR 82% OF THE AL WEST DIVISION WINNER'S.Enough said about fiscal responsibility

Notice that teams like the Yankee's and Red Socks are not handing out the contracts like they used to do.

The Luxury Tax amount has I think been increased and it is more difficult to simply buy a good team

Think about it. 5 years ago the Yankees would have signed Greingke and Hamilton and LaRoach and Loshe. I don't think they've signed anyone. They are acting like Canno is going to be allowed to walk next year.

Times have changed

You van't blame the Rangers for not wanting to throw money away

Right on Draggle right on.

Darvish was also 6/110. Coming out to 18 mil a year and he was 4 years younger than Ol Greinke. Dodgers also signed a horrible contract where he can opt out after the first 3 years. Greinke's number will probably look great too because he's playing in a great pitchers park where even Chan Ho Park had great years. He'll probably opt out too because he might be able to get mid 2 ERA and then the Dodgers will have to pay through the nose again. So in summation the Darvish signing was smart and Greinke is waay overpaid for one good year.