If there's one theme at this year's Winter Meetings, it's this: it's a buyer's market in the baseball world, as a rumored sale of the Oklahoma City RedHawks could be the first of many franchise sales in coming weeks. There are some bargains out there, so if you're heading to Indy, bring your checkbook.
If there's one theme at this year's Winter Meetings, it's this: it's a buyer's market in the baseball world. There are many teams on the market, the casualty of a declining economy and the declining valuation of teams.
Though it's not been announced, two reliable sources tell us the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are in the process of being sold to Art Solomon, the owner of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Low Class A; Sally League). There are many teams on the market, and we expect to have a few announcements in coming weeks about additional sales.
Bad times are usually a good time to jump into a business. For instance, we hear an established Sally League team with a favorable lease is on the market for $7 million, a fair price — but one lower than the team would have fetched just a year ago. Similarly, we know of one Cal League team on the market for less than that — though we expect that team to be sold in the next year.
So if you're hitting the Winter Meetings tomorrow, bring your checkbook.
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