Prince Fielder signing - Ilitch wants a WS victory
I was watching the teleconference with Fielder and Ilitch today, and having not seen Mr. Ilitch for a while, I thought he did not look well.
It made the signing of Fielder very clear, he is about 83, and wants to win a WS more than anything before he passes. I wish him well, but with some people questioning the move in the press, to me it seems very clear he wants a WS win badly and is not concerned about years 7, 8 and 9 of Fielder's contract, when he will be nearly 90.
I hope Mr. Ilitch is healthy, no doubt he is getting the best care available. It would be a crowning achievement for him to get a WS ring, all those years after his baseball career ended.
How the Tigers are financed
The Tigers can absolutely afford Price Fielder. In 2012, his salary simply replaces Ordonez [[$10 million) and Carlos Guillen [[$13 million). There's no real net gain in the bottom line with Fielder. What ballooned the payroll from $107 million in 2011 to $127 million in 2012 [[so far) is Verlander's deal jumping up to $20.1 million, and a handful of smaller dealers and acquisitions.
V-Mart's $13 million salary this season is covered, at least in part, by insurance.
The Ilitches have a $4 billion empire. They can afford to spend like the Yankees, but don't need to. They will outspend everyone in the Central, if they want to.
Why? The owner can afford it comfortably, especially thanks to MLB's revenue sharing from Central Fund and from the 10-year FSD cable contract. Those two account for about $90 million for the team, before you even get to ticket sales, concessions, merchandise, parking, etc.
Here is my breakdown in Crain's of the Ilitch business holdings and how the Tigers are financed: Link.