Well, if you consider the fact that the Houston Astros are making more money than any other team in baseball — then yes they are.
In terms of wins and losses, the Houston Astro’s are baseball’s worst team. This may have something to do with the fact that Erik Bedard — the owner of a 3-9 record and a 1.492 WHIP — is their only player making over a million bucks this season.
The Astros are in the midst of a massive rebuild, trying to stockpile their farm system before making any big moves on the major league level. Their payroll currently sit at $13 million after opening the season at $26 million. Since that time the Astros have traded four of the five players on their roster making more than a million dollars.
Despite their record and their roster, the Astros are about to set a record for the highest operating income in baseball history, according to Forbes.
Almost no one in the Houston Astros organization is making big league money. The highest-paid player is pitcher Erik Bedard, who is playing on a one-year, $1.15 million contract. No one else is pulling in over $1 million a year. That is, no one besides Jim Crane, who owns the worst team in the majors and is quietly making more money than any baseball owner in history.
The Astros are on pace to rake in an estimated $99 million in operating income this season. That is more than the estimated operating income of the previous eight World Series championship teams — combined.
Jim Crane remains steadfast in his vision for the Astros. He wants to make sure that they are able to build from within, using their own draft picks and prospects to compete. Not only is this an efficient way to run a baseball team, it is also hella profitable.
At the end of the season when the Tigers or Cardinals or Dodgers win the World Series they will be crowned as the best team in baseball for this season. But, we always hear that sports are a business, and if that is truly the case — maybe it is the Mighty Astros who are the best team in baseball.
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