Chase not Practicing

[higgy100]

(09-11-2024, 09:55 AM)samhain Wrote: The 800 pound gorilla in the room is what this means long term for the Bengals under current ownership.

They had a reputation for being cash-poor, deserved or not.  They still signed their major stars in almost every case.  All the way up to Joey B.

We might literally be running into the wall with Chase.  

I tend to believe that the team wants to pay him and keep him.  I fell like it's possible that they offered all they could.  Bickering over a 4th year at the current rate vs the future inflated rate seems like a strange hill to die on.  It gives them 3 more years to evaluate keeping him along with three more years of profit sharing revenue.  If anything, they get a chance to cut bait if things don't work out.  

If they can't afford to sign these kinds of guys, then they will either have to commit to churning for prospect capital or seek new, cash-flush ownership to remain competitive.  Unlikely. 

It won't quite be the grifting Castellini's and their MLB misery-factory money machine, but it will have similar limitations in acquiring talent.  Even the draft won't completely insulate them when guys start getting early extensions around the league as players here become disgruntled.  

This negotiation could be a major turning point for this franchise and unfortunately it's time in Cincinnati.  Even fan favorite players like Ja'marr are going to want money.  Can't hold it against them.  They will quickly become villains as soon as other members of their draft classes begin to break the bank.  They aren't Sam Hubbard.  They have no tie to the city or organization.

Well said. While not quite the same, the Reds went through something very similar in 2014 with Votto. it had been a losing franchise for 13-14 years, had finally turned the corner with a really good core nucleus of players, was finally a playoff team and had found their superstar in Votto. It was time to shoe their fanbase they were serious going forward.