"There are some cases in which player acquisition is as simple as making the highest contract offer, but most deals have a lot more going on below the surface. The Cubs' world championship team was comprised of several players who actually took less money - yes, even Jason Heyward - to join a roster they felt was capable of making history. In more topical news, righty Michael King doesn't even appear to have considered the Cubs due to his preference to be back on the East Coast."
"Then there are the various business philosophies between different organizations, like how the Cubs refuse to defer large chunks of salary while the Dodgers are content to punt a billion dollars into the future. Jed Hoyer tends to treat both the offseason and the trade deadline like a duck swimming: Everything looks calm to the point of apathy on the surface, yet those webbed feet are churning furiously. And while we can't mistake activity for progress, a lot of folks tend to misunderstand the ease - or lack thereof - with which deals get done."
"It took two YouTube videos and a great deal of frustration, but I was eventually able to remove the windshield wipers, wiper cowl, water tray, and clamp in order to access the battery. After using a mixture of vinegar and lime juice to clean off the corroded negative terminal, I installed the new battery and replaced all the surrounding parts. Just as I was feeling accomplished, I learned that I would have to reset the wiper motors in order to get them working again."
Player acquisition often involves more than the highest contract offer, with some players accepting less money to join championship-capable rosters. Personal preferences can shape decisions, as a pitcher preferred returning to the East Coast and avoided certain teams. Organizations follow different payroll philosophies, with some refusing to defer large salary chunks while others push costs far into the future. Front-office behavior may seem calm while significant effort occurs behind the scenes. Dealmaking complexity is compared to a difficult mechanical task: accessing and replacing a car battery required removing multiple components, cleaning corroded terminals, reinstalling parts, and resetting systems.
Read at Cubsinsider
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