For years, we have been told that, in MLB, there are small and big-market teams.
That, to an extent, is correct.
Usually, we use television households and the size of the local population to define the size of the market for a specific team.
If we broaden the parameters of the search, the “market” is the number of people these teams can reach with TV broadcasts, advertising, merchandising, social media, and other indicators.
However, with each passing year, fans are opening their eyes to an evident reality: small-market teams cannot only survive in MLB, but they can also compete.
They all have the ability to spend, otherwise we wouldn’t have seen the Tampa Bay Rays extending Wander Franco, the Rockies showering Kris Bryant with money last year, or the Miami Marlins extending Giancarlo Stanton to a $325 million deal a few years ago.
The San Diego Padres have been appointed for years as a small-market team.
They are tearing off the myth that these so-called “small market” organizations can’t be competitive.
To the contrary, they have the ability to spend big-time, just ask Padres owner Peter Seidler.
“Padres owner Peter Seidler is tearing apart the myth of the ‘small market’ city that many MLB owners have successfully perpetuated for years… and he’s being rewarded for it. The city of San Diego loves this team–showed it during the pandemic, showed it during the NLCS run,” analyst and former NFL player Rich Ohrnberger tweeted.
Padres owner Peter Seidler is tearing apart the myth of the "small market" city that many MLB owners have successfully perpetuated for years… and he's being rewarded for it.
The city of San Diego loves this team–showed it during the pandemic, showed it during the NLCS run.
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) February 26, 2023
Manny Machado was extended on an 11-year, $350 million deal, and he had gotten a 10-year, $300 million pact four years ago.
The Padres also signed star shortstop Xander Bogaerts to a $280 million pact a few weeks ago and have put together a strong farm system that enabled them to trade for Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Juan Soto in recent seasons.
They have big goals, and are not afraid to spend to reach them.
There are small and big markets in baseball, but the most important indicator is willingness to win.
Everyone can spend, but not everyone wants to.
NEXT: Manny Machado Made Sports History With His New Contract
