Pohlad and Steinbrenner's personal wealth has NOTHING to do with this. Nothing. The money that Boston and the two New York teams use to spend on players does not come from the owners personal wealth. That is such a fallacy. I can't believe people still believe that. It is a business...and sinking personal wealth in order to win a championship doesn't bring a financial return.
As for contraction...it was Pohlad's way of getting fiesty Minnesotans to put up some cash to get a stadium. Minnesotans aren't quite as gullible as other inhabitants of our country. They know that personal wealth spent on a venue will bring a return. And that even if your team moves (Lakers and North Stars), the league will return (Timberwolves and Wild). Contraction was an idle threat with Florida and Montreal in the league.
And if you ask me (outside of the past trade dealine), the Twins have been in the playoffs (or close) just as much as the Yankees have been over the past five years. The Yankees aren't wearing any rings from those years. The Red Sox have one ring over the past how many years? They didn't even make the playoffs last year. Sure, as a Twins fan, I would have loved to see a defensive third baseman with a bat added. But, who was out there, and where did they go?
Terry Ryan is not leaving the team...he is just leaving the GM position. He is akin to Bill Polian - knows how to fill the holes with TALENT, often groomed in their farm system.
It is not all about the money. That is a lousy argument.