Gil Meche on quitting: I Don't Deserve $12 Million

hell yeah...its not as if the owner is not a billionaire that can't afford to pay his salary.

 

He already made 50 million. I am sure that because of his decision to retire, he now has to sell his house and live in a studio apartment.

 

why does it matter what he already made? Say he has $25 mil in his bank/investments. He's giving up another $8 mil after taxes (just guessing at #'s)

Say you had $2 mil in the bank and were offered an extra $750k after taxes. Would you be willing to turn down something you were guaranteed in the name of "not feeling like it was justified" just because you have enough money already?

You can say what you want about the scale...but a lot of people could live their current lives till they die with $2 M in the bank. But I'm pretty sure most would take the extra $750k in that situation.

 

I'm all for integrity, and it's a good thing he did, but with his finances, it's not like he's going broke anytime soon because of it. The guy signed a business deal in which both parties knew he'd be getting paid no matter his performance (I guess), so he's not cheating anything. If he felt bad, just take the money and donate it to some charity like others have said. He wouldn't be accepting the money he doesn't think he deserves and would be donating it to a good cause.

 

I think people who are talking about donating to charity and just keeping money are looking at it from afar. I don't believe Meche is a saint or a selfless person. Not sure what's the word to look for here though...

Basically, I think it was just a bad situation. The Royals have generally been really cheap, and in general their payroll's pretty low. Meche must've been one of the highest paid players. And his salary is likely hamstringing the GM from spending the money on players that can help. I think he feels guilty towards the team and his teammates that he's putting such a burden on them, while unable to do anything about it. Hence, the retirement, to free the team from his albatross of a contract, and potentially give his teammates a chance for a solid teammate(s) with the money saved.

IMO, if Meche were on the Yankees or the Red Sox, or even perhaps a middling team like the Astros, he would've just kept cashing his paychecks. But he had the unique circumstance of being that "big FA signing" for a bad team with a low payroll. So his lack of performance really sticks out like a sore thumb.

Anyway, just my thoughts on why such a weird decision.

 

In the eyes of the people paying him it isn't 12 million. Its a normal % of what a "regular" organization might pay an employee. He looked at it the wrong way. Stupid. In the NFL they'd put players to sleep like dogs if they could. Bidness is bidness. Thats the attitude you've gotta have no matter what side you're on.

 

He's going into politics, book it.

 

Players overestimate their abilities all the time, who's to say he's not underestimating his? He's made enough for this to not be completely irrational or irresponsible, I just hope there aren't bigger stress issues going on and that he's found something else to do with himself.

 

He'll be thrilled to know you don't think he should feel that way. :grin:

 

I'm guessing he thought of that...but since it's ultimately his decision to make.....

 

clutchfans on the day cancer is cured:

**** you ******* for not curing it faster.

 

No, that would be you. You are the one on here who just enjoys the hell out of figuring out which cuss words are still "ok."

Kinda like an 8 year old.

 

yep. hey if you do something good but you aren't in a dire or desperate situation, it doesn't matter. Things are only legit if it's life or death--and you choose death.

 

exactly. people will find a way to criticize virtually anything.

 

that was one hell of a burn, I NEED SOME ALOE!!!

 

Sadly, fixed.

(eerr... broken?)

 

"HUH?"

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