Following the 2016 Major League Baseball season, the market for home run hitters who were free agents
Question:
Following the 2016 Major League Baseball season, the market for home run hitters who were free agents and available to sign with any team was unexpectedly quiet. Players such as Edwin Encarnacion and Chris Carter signed for lower salaries and for fewer years than either they or their agents had expected. Here are two explanations for the relatively low salary offers:
1. Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, explained, “There has been a shift . . . in how people value . . . defense and some of the other aspects of players’ games.”
2. Brian Cashman, general manager of the New York Yankees, blamed the weak market on a greater-thannormal number of power hitters who were free agents: “The chessboard was set up with more participants than there were chairs.”
Draw two graphs depicting the demand and supply for home run hitters. In the first graph, illustrate a change in the market that is consistent with Mark Shapiro’s explanation for the decline in salaries. In the second graph, illustrate a change in the market that is consistent with Brian Cashman’s explanation for the decline in salaries. Briefly explain your graphs.
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