Is it really possible for a Major League Baseball team to BUY a championship winner by acquiring super-expensive free agents?
With the season now half over, that's the question a number of big spending ball clubs, including the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees -- among others -- have to be asking themselves (more on this later).
But don't include the Texas Rangers in this group. They probably still believe that, yes, a title can indeed be purchased.
That's because Texas are the only one of the clubs that shelled out exorbitant amounts of moolah in the past few off-seasons and currently have anything to show for it.
The formerly downtrodden Rangers have not made the postseason or even have a winning record since 2016. But this season, thanks to some free agents deals that have really panned out, Texas have turned things around.
They are currently in first place in the American League Central. They hold a five-game lead over the second place -- and defending World Champions -- Houston Astros. Pretty impressive stuff.
Texas' top free agent signings shortstop Corey Seager (US$328 million over 10 years) and second sacker Marcus Semien ($175 million, seven years) have delivered big-time for the Rangers.
Both lead in the All-Star balloting at their positions.
Another Ranger free agent acquisition -- Jacob deGrom, $186 million over five years -- has been nearly unhittable -- when available due to injury problems the Rangers look to be very formidable come the postseason.
But ask the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and New Yankees (among other big MLB spenders) if they still think they can buy a champion and they might not be as strong in the their belief that it IS possible.
The Mets have MLB's highest player payroll -- $368 million -- yet they have a poor 36-45 mark and are languishing in fourth place in the National League East, trailing first place Atlanta by a whopping 17 games.
Much of the Mets' dough is tied up in shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
Lindor ($341 million over 10 years) is currently batting just .224, though he does have 16 homers.
For the next few years, the Mets also have huge bucks invested in Scherzer ($130 million over three years) and Verlander -- $86.7 million a year for this season and next.
Verlander has battled shoulder trouble and is a subpar 2-4 with an Earned Run Average of 4.11.
Scherzer is doing more to earn his $43.3 million per year. He is currently 7-2 and has a respectable but not great ERA of 3.87.
The San Diego Padres, meanwhile, have little to show for the $251 million (3rd highest in MLB) they are paying their players.
Expected to contend for the NL West title, the Pads are just 37-44 and in 4th place in their division.
Worse yet for San Diego are the numerous long term deals they've struck up with many of their key players, including: 32-year old third sacker Manny Machado (3 seasons into his $350 million over 11 years deal), IF-OF Fernando Tatis, Jr ($340 million, 14 years), infielder Xander Bogaerts, 30, (11 years, $280 million) and 36-year old pitcher Yu Darvish ($108 million, six years).
One only had to see the pitiful last two or three years of limping Luis Pujols and over the hill Miguel Cabrera -- each inked to a similar 11-year contract when they had just turned 30 -- to doubt the wisdom of such long term deals.
The New York Yankees second in team spending ($268 million), though, at least have a respectable 45-36 mark so far. But that still only has them in third place in the AL East.
They trail the more austere-spending second place Baltimore Orioles and the shoestring budgeted-yet-division leaders Tampa Bay, whom the Yanks are 9½ games behind.
At least the Bronx Bombers have postseason hopes. So, CAN a title winner be bought through free agency? Wiggins' World says the proof is in the pudding: most times NOT.
Contact Wiggins World at davwigg@gmail.com