Big day in MLB today ...

[Auggie]

Needing to fill an unexpected hole in right field for 2015, the Cardinals went for a big splash, acquiring outfielder Jason Heyward from the Braves along with right-handed reliever Jordan Walden. The cost was heavy, however, as the Cardinals sent a pair of former first-round Draft picks -- right-handers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins -- to Atlanta to complete the four-player trade on Monday.

AND

The Marlins have made the biggest splash in franchise and professional sports history, securing the services of slugger Giancarlo Stanton in South Florida with a record-setting contract.

Stanton on Monday agreed to terms on a jaw-dropping 13-year, $325 million contract, which includes the first no-trade clause awarded by the organization.

http://mlb.mlb.com/home

WOW! Cardinals aren't wasting any time.

[El Supremo]

1. Stanton broke A-Roid's record?

Can you say $20 hot dogs?

[joeybee12]

2. Yeah, but with no one in the stands to buy them...nt

[marmar]

4. LOL

[joeybee12]

5. The Marlins consider this size of a crowd...

a sell-out.

[JonLP24]

8. Food is over-priced for the same reason it is over-priced inside movie theaters

Usually they have rules like you can't bring in your own food.

They do it because they're in a position to get away with it. The fixed costs such as Stanton's contract have nothing to do with it, raising the price to deal with the higher cost (which implies they were offering the previous prices from the goodness of their hearts) would only work if customers purchased at the same rate. They'd make less money from the price increase if fewer people purchased.

Usually what happens when they sign a big name free agent is demand for tickets increase so they raise the price and owners turn around and blame the contract for the price increase but for the same reason, if fewer people purchased the tickets they'd make less money (they would have already jacked up the prices if they could)

[hughee99]

3. So the Cards traded away a quality starter

for a career .262 hitter who SHOULD have power, but really doesn't and a pen guy that they didn't really need that bad? I don't get it. Are there any kool-aid drinking fans who can explain why they would do this?

[Initech]

6. They must have taken a cue from the Angels.

Trading Zach Grenke and signing worthless but looks good on paper Josh Hamilton to an ungodly contact? Epic fail.

[hughee99]

7. Yes, that was a bit of a headscratcher as well, but at least Hamilton looked good on paper.

Heyward doesn't even look that good on paper. He got himself a Gold Glove, but the only thing I can see that's really appealing about him is that he's "only" 7.5 million, but he's going into a contract year. If they wanted a light hitting "glove" in right, they could have gotten it much cheaper. Miller is (at worst) a middle of the rotation guy who makes 500K and isn't even arbitration until next season and won't be a free agent until 2019. If you can get good pitching cheap, you don't trade it away.