The counter argument is that MLB owners can afford to take the hit if it doesn't work out. If the goal is to win a World Series, these big FAs make your team better, especially at the front end of the deal. You are paying for the rest of his career production regardless of how many years it occurs in. Machado was the #1 target at the trade deadline and now suddenly nobody wants him? I could see it if Machado and Harper were 29, but they should be just coming into their prime. I don't necessarily agree with everything above, but I do think we will see pre-arbitration MLB players making considerably more money in a future CBA and possibly earlier free agency. The efforts to save money are too widespread given the simultaneous record revenues. Yeah, I think everyone understands the "it's a business" side of things, but it's really hard for owners to cry poor when the books are open enough to see that the player's piece of revenue pie has been getting smaller, percentage wise, year by year. It's not unwise to not give guys huge contracts during their 35 - 40 age years, it's counter productive, but the players (fairly) want to be compensated. SOmething's gonna give, and soon.