JazzyJake

I don’t follow the NBA, but for the NFL, I think the answer is yes. Now, there are other variables, at least partly attributable to management. For example the Mets are a large market team who always suck because of bad signings/contracts; the NE Patriots manage the salary cap expertly and are perpetually good. And good players will always prefer to play with storied teams, but the cap mitigates their ability to always do so. NFL free agents are more quick to sign with teams (like the Lions) because teams can only sign one, maybe two premier free agents; after that the cap prevents more signings. If an NFL free agent holds out, they usually get screwed because the available money runs out. No Red Sox or Yankees with unlimited purses. And no Mark Teixiera games of using a poorer team as contract leverage. The NFL does have a couple perpetually bad franchises, but that is due to awful management. In general, most NFL teams make the playoffs every few years at least - the salary cap allows that.

Until MLB implements a meaningful salary cap there will be the haves and the have-nots situation we have now where the smaller market teams serve as player development for the large market teams. The O’s are a AAAA franchise. Bye Manny!