For all the socialism handwringing, kinda odd that international soccer is wide open free market competition and US pro sports are much more regulated.
Big market (Yankees, Dodgers, Mets), well run (Cardinals), or both (Cubs, Giants, Red Sox) have the highest probability of winning consistently. At the other end of the spectrum, has to be painful for fans of small to mid market teams saddled with shitty contracts (Pujols, Greinke, Braun, Votto, Verlander, Stanton).
Surprisingly still some "reasonable" contracts for superstars (Bum, Sale, Posey, McCutchen, Trout). Harper's long term deal will blow up some franchise. ARod's ridiculous deal messed up two franchises.