Is a strike looming, or is this fake news?

[TURBO]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/gabe-lacques/2019/02/22/mlb-collective-bargaining-agreement-strike/2948101002/?fbclid=IwAR2ZyPuICdAnqFO4VJTEyA83ltecMhmXrlG3_i_tRAEFnJZkl6U_lXH8Wak

[jerichoholicninja]

It probably is but the players are the ones who will suffer the most from it. The owners will still be filthy rich with baseball or without it. Any strike is certainly going to kill baseball's revenues for a good number of years and player salaries will face the brunt of it. Especially if they push for things like higher minimum salary and shorted team control. That's even more money going away from older veterans to younger guys. If you thought being a free agent over 30 was bad now, wait until players in their mid 20's are getting paid in the millions with only a couple years service time or getting free agency at 25 or 26 becomes normal. Not to mention, right now, the players are very much on the losing side of public perception. Striking is not going to help that.

[3and2Fastball]

I don't know if players are on the wrong side of public perception. The general public is much more aware of things than in the 80's & 90's. Why shouldn't players get a bigger portion of revenue? Without the players MLB would be nothing...

[JosephC]

Best way for players to approach this is not to try to get the owners to agree to free agency after five years or four years of arbitration, because those are concepts that ownership should and would dismiss immediately. What the players should go after are all the service time manipulations, where some significant changes could be made that a good percentage of owners may agree with.

 

Credit a player with 1 full year of service time once he reaches 72 days on the 25 man roster in one season. That doesn't mean if Hiura begins the season on the opening day roster, that he'd get 2 years of service time once he got to day 144. No more waiting until the end of May to bring up the superstar prospect, now teams would have to wait until the end of July which would be difficult to do if the team felt that player was ready in April.

 

And to address manipulation of waiting to bring a rookie up until July, change Super Two status from the current form to all players having over 2 years, 40 days of service time go straight into arbitration. So if a team wants to call the superstar prospect up in July, he is a lock to get four years of arbitration.

 

A player automatically receives 1 full year of service time if he's added to the 25 man roster for a third time during the same season (activated from DL doesn't count). So you want to yo-yo the 9th man in the bullpen back and forth from MLB to AAA, the third time it's done that player has one year of service time.

 

Eliminate the fourth year option.

 

Automatic league-wide bonuses paid to third year players based strictly on plate appearances and innings pitched. In addition to the minimum salary, players get small bonuses for every 20 innings pitched or 60 plate appearances.

 

No penalties for team when signing a qualifying offer free agent.

 

Now luxury tax penalties go back to the MLB office. In the future, 50% of the luxury tax penalties go back to the MLBPA who would distribute it back to players with <3 years of MLB service time by whatever formula the MLBPA chooses.

[homer]

The owners being rich won't have much to do with it. These guys don't like losing money at all.

[TURBO]

Without the players MLB would be nothing...

 

Ummmm, and without owners, those that pay the players millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars, MLB wouldn't exist.

[JosephC]

In the past, it seems like public perception is....if the owners lock the players out, then the owners are the bad guys...if the players strike, then the players are the bad guys. There is an insane amount of money for both parties here and whichever one walks away if going to look like the evil, greedy entity in this dispute.

 

MLB and MLBPA have to tread lightly here. Speaking of changing public perceptions, more and more people are getting sick and tired of paying for billion dollar playgrounds when billion dollar owners and million dollar athletes could pay for it with their own money. Those folks in five southeastern counties must be getting sick of paying that sales tax by now, when Attanasio and Braun can just sit back and count their money and just wonder how the general public can be so stupid as to give them all that money.

[homer]

Without the players MLB would be nothing...

 

Ummmm, and without owners, those that pay the players millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars, MLB wouldn't exist.

 

The owners exist because people want to pay money to see the players. No one pays money to see Mark A sit in his box seats.

[owbc]

Hard to blame the players for being upset about a system that is severely rigged against them. It's terrible for the fans too. I'm sick of top prospects being stuck in the minor leagues. The system needs major reform and if a strike is what it takes, I'm all for it.

[jerichoholicninja]

I don't know if players are on the wrong side of public perception. The general public is much more aware of things than in the 80's & 90's. Why shouldn't players get a bigger portion of revenue? Without the players MLB would be nothing...

 

At the moment, yes, the players are seen as the bad guys. When you have Machado holding out four months because he's not getting what he wants and he winds up getting the GDP of a small nation (and the same eventually for Harper), the fans have no sympathy.

 

Like I've posted in every thread about this, though, neither side wants anything that's beneficial for the fans or the game in general so as fans choosing a side is pretty stupid.

[JimH5]

I think a strike will happen.

 

Players think they are getting screwed by the new labor market, and a strike is the only way they'll get back what they have lost.

 

Guys were willing to forego money early in their careers to get paid later. But that money has dried up. There will probably be big paydays for superstars, but a player in his early 30s now seems destined to sign year-by-year contracts at a fraction of the prices paid in the past.

 

Teams have every right to resist those big money deals, but if guys have been underpaid throughout their minor league careers and then are having their service time jerked around, and then are facing premature unemployment or modest veteran salaries, that may be too much for them to take.

[TURBO]

Without the players MLB would be nothing...

 

Ummmm, and without owners, those that pay the players millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars, MLB wouldn't exist.

 

The owners exist because people want to pay money to see the players. No one pays money to see Mark A sit in his box seats.

 

If there weren't owners, there would be no one to pay those players. We can go in circles all day on this topic.

[mtsportsfan]

Really, a rigged system. Who cares. The players make ton of money playing a game! Get paid to stay in shape. They act like they take a bus for travel, pay for there own food and sleep in crappie hotels for six months of the year. Players will not ever get any sympathy from me. I would switch spots with them anytime they want.

[TooLiveBrew]

Really, a rigged system. Who cares. The players make ton of money playing a game! Get paid to stay in shape. They act like they take a bus for travel, pay for there own food and sleep in crappie hotels for six months of the year. Players will not ever get any sympathy from me. I would switch spots with them anytime they want.

What are your thoughts on the percentage of revenues generated by MLB and its players that go to team owners?

[BrewFan130]

I think players need to be careful with the idea of a strike. They need to take some time and look back at the last baseball strike. It was costly to the players and the league, a lot of fans either didn’t comeback while others took many years to return to ballparks. In the end, the strike didn’t just effect the game for the half season they didn’t play, but for many seasons to follow. Attendance suffered for many years and when attendance declines so do players salaries, so if the goal is to increase player salaries a strike very well may backfire. The MLB has a completely new generation of players with none left from the last strike to be a voice in the clubhouses.

 

To be honest I don’t understand the point of the Players Association if the players are individually talking about strike and it’s not coming from MLBPA. Is there a disconnect between the players and the MLBPA? It’s my understanding they sit down with the MLB every 2 years and until now I thought the biggest concerns revolved around new rule changes and season length. This is the first time I’ve heard rumblings of a strike and for the past 10 years I’ve been a pretty involved fan. Meaning I read MLB related articles at least 5 days a week during the season and weekly during the off-season. Off-season being Nov. to mid February. Anyone else hear strike rumblings prior to this article?

 

If this article is a truthful account of how the players are really feeling then why aren’t players pushing for incentive based contracts. I have to imagine that teams would heavily favor incentive based contracts. Also, in pro sports the NFL leads all others in revenue, yet the MLB minimum salary exceeds that of the NFL. I really feel MLB players are more than fairly compensated. There are conversations regarding many players not signing contracts until Spring Training has started. Are the teams holding out and waiting or is it on the players holding out till the last moment trying to get the most lucrative deal? Its tough to say as fans are not privy to negotiating offer information, we only know the details of signed contracts.

[BrewFan130]

I think players need to be careful with the idea of a strike. They need to take some time and look back at the last baseball strike. It was costly to the players and the league, a lot of fans either didn’t comeback while others took many years to return to ballparks. In the end, the strike didn’t just effect the game for the half season they didn’t play, but for many seasons to follow. Attendance suffered for many years and when attendance declines so do players salaries, so if the goal is to increase player salaries a strike very well may backfire. The MLB has a completely new generation of players with none left from the last strike to be a voice in the clubhouses.

 

To be honest I don’t understand the point of the Players Association if the players are individually talking about strike and it’s not coming from MLBPA. Is there a disconnect between the players and the MLBPA? It’s my understanding they sit down with the MLB every 2 years and until now I thought the biggest concerns revolved around new rule changes and season length. This is the first time I’ve heard rumblings of a strike and for the past 10 years I’ve been a pretty involved fan. Meaning I read MLB related articles at least 5 days a week during the season and weekly during the off-season. Off-season being Nov. to mid February. Anyone else hear strike rumblings prior to this article?

 

If this article is a truthful account of how the players are really feeling then why aren’t players pushing for incentive based contracts. I have to imagine that teams would heavily favor incentive based contracts. Also, in pro sports the NFL leads all others in revenue, yet the MLB minimum salary exceeds that of the NFL. I really feel MLB players are more than fairly compensated. There are conversations regarding many players not signing contracts until Spring Training has started. Are the teams holding out and waiting or is it on the players holding out till the last moment trying to get the most lucrative deal? Its tough to say as fans are not privy to negotiating offer information, we only know the details of signed contracts.

 

I apologize about the narrative, I typically avoid them in blogs.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

I’m a fan of the name on the front of the jerseys. I’ll be backing the owners.

[Jenkins5]

Only real way to fix spending problem in FA & tank rebuilds is for ML is to install a salary floor based on revenues with maybe a luxury tax penalty where teams will be forces to cover difference if under (us it or pay dead money)

 

I don’t know if owners would be willing to do it but if I’m player association, that’s what I’d push for. It’s good for competitiveness of baseball.

 

Also for owners to give incentive to be more competitive think a bigger playoff overhaul is needed. The second wild card has helped but the more teams competing in September raises revenue. More people attend games in September. There is more money in playoff baseball. I hate 8 teams because like the east in basketball, crappy below .500 teams can sneak in. 6 teams would be nice but hard to do because 2 teams would get byes & that is too long of a lay off unless you have 2 play in games or 2 3 game series to shorten lay off. Baseball season would prob have to cut down to 154 to 156 games.

 

So Overall

force teams to pay x amount in salary or they eat money

Expanded playoffs increases revenue & competitiveness of teams (leading to spending increase)

 

Not fully on topic but I was thinking about it today & here seemed fitting

[KCBrewerfan34]

System does need to be tweaked. Hopefully both sides can compromise or find issues important to them and do some horse trading.

 

The players shouldn’t be upset the Russell Martin and Brian McCann deals aren’t being handed out like candy. Go look at those 2 deals, it will make you sick.

 

Clean up the service time issues, maybe limit contract lengths or give team outs halfway thru deals lasting 5-6 years. Implement a worldwide draft, drop the pick compensation on QO offers. Implement a right of 1st refusal on for teams. Get rid of Super 2. Lower FA to 5 years etc....

 

Lots of possibles and a strike would be really stupid, despite agent39’s baby rants the adults should be able to get a deal done. Hopefully, he has zero say.

[Jenkins5]

System does need to be tweaked. Hopefully both sides can compromise or find issues important to them and do some horse trading.

 

The players shouldn’t be upset the Russell Martin and Brian McCann deals aren’t being handed out like candy. Go look at those 2 deals, it will make you sick.

 

Clean up the service time issues, maybe limit contract lengths or give team outs halfway thru deals lasting 5-6 years. Implement a worldwide draft, drop the pick compensation on QO offers. Implement a right of 1st refusal on for teams. Get rid of Super 2. Lower FA to 5 years etc....

 

Lots of possibles and a strike would be really stupid, despite agent39’s baby rants the adults should be able to get a deal done. Hopefully, he has zero say.

 

And really I don’t think money is the biggest issue but players wanting long term deals with guaranteed money. Many of these free agents probably have had nice short term deals with nice price tags but they want the years. Moose & Grandal both settled for the short term deals but many haven’t been willing to. Hard to believe Kuechel hasn’t been offered at least a 1-2 year deal at around 14-15 million. But I’m sure he wants a 3-4 year deal at same price. Due to the Garzas, Lohse, Suppans before him, most teams know a pitch in their 30s statistically drop off before end of that deal.

[502 to Right]

I think a strike will happen.

 

Players think they are getting screwed by the new labor market, and a strike is the only way they'll get back what they have lost.

 

What have they lost? They haven't had anything taken away.

[502 to Right]

If the players strike for any length of time I'm done with baseball.

 

I did not watch a baseball game between 1995 and 1999 due to the strike. They do it again and I'm through.

[brooks_quichenick]

I’m a fan of the name on the front of the jerseys. I’ll be backing the owners.

 

 

A fan of the name on the front of the jerseys so you’ll lick the boots of the billionaires who have never put on a jersey. Sound logic.

 

Revenues are going up, so players salaries should also go up. Pretty simple. I’ll support a player’s strike should they deem it necessary and I’ll be there to watch them play ball at the highest level when they return. The owners can piss up a rope for all I care.

[DHonks]

System does need to be tweaked. Hopefully both sides can compromise or find issues important to them and do some horse trading.

 

The players shouldn’t be upset the Russell Martin and Brian McCann deals aren’t being handed out like candy. Go look at those 2 deals, it will make you sick.

 

Clean up the service time issues, maybe limit contract lengths or give team outs halfway thru deals lasting 5-6 years. Implement a worldwide draft, drop the pick compensation on QO offers. Implement a right of 1st refusal on for teams. Get rid of Super 2. Lower FA to 5 years etc....

 

Lots of possibles and a strike would be really stupid, despite agent39’s baby rants the adults should be able to get a deal done. Hopefully, he has zero say.

 

And really I don’t think money is the biggest issue but players wanting long term deals with guaranteed money. Many of these free agents probably have had nice short term deals with nice price tags but they want the years. Moose & Grandal both settled for the short term deals but many haven’t been willing to. Hard to believe Kuechel hasn’t been offered at least a 1-2 year deal at around 14-15 million. But I’m sure he wants a 3-4 year deal at same price. Due to the Garzas, Lohse, Suppans before him, most teams know a pitch in their 30s statistically drop off before end of that deal.

 

How do you know Kuechel hasn't been offered a 1-2 year deal at 14-15 million? You're saying that, just like how the media was reporting the best offers to Machado were for $175-200 million. The media and MLB players has kept complaining about how the market is broken, citing examples of Machado and Harper being unsigned. Yet Machado just got a massive contract. It is likely Kuechel has several offers of varying lengths and dollar amounts.

[adambr2]

Here's my attempt at a peaceful resolution between players and owners:

 

1) All revenue is split 50/50 between players and owners, bringing this in line with other professional sports. While an exact 50% split isn't always practical, the owners shall agree that the 50% shall be the minimum split for players. When the split falls below 50% of share for the players, the balance shall go to the MLBPA to be distributed at their leisure to bring the split up to 50/50.

 

2) So let's start from the bottom, with the disgraceful pay at the low levels of the minors. It's a disgrace because the vast majority of those trying to achieve the dream of playing Major League Baseball never make it and instead toil in poverty, and after they finally have to give up on their dream they often have no good job prospects or education because they've spent their entire young adulthood trying to play baseball. MLB could easily afford to at least pay their players a living wage, they simply don't want to because they don't have to. Enough is enough, and both sides are to blame. It doesn't change because neither side cares. MLB doesn't care because no one forces them to care. The MLBPA doesn't care because they don't represent these guys. Well, it's time for both sides to care and do the right thing rather than simply fighting over the enormous pieces of the pie. So the basic solution is this:

 

Far higher annual salaries, which are prorated based on time spent on an MiLB roster or disabled list when added during the season via draft or free agency, a full MiLB season equaling one year of annual salary. Players can elect to be paid during the season only or have their salary spread throughout the season. Players who begin the season on a roster and are released during the season will be entitled to a payout of their remaining annual salary and retain benefits for the rest of the calendar year.

 

A ball and below - $40,000 annual salary with benefits

 

A+ ball - $50,000 annual salary

 

AA ball - $65,000 annual salary

 

AAA ball - $80,000 annual salary if not on 40 man roster, $100,000 salary if on 40 man roster or MLB veteran with at least 1 day MLB service time.

 

Players promoted to a higher level during a season shall have begin receiving new salary at that time based on new annual wage, players demoted to a lower level will retain their previous pay grade for the remainder of the year.

 

3) MLB minimum salaries increase to $1M. Players will automatically be paid at minimum salary for 2 season, then be arbitration eligible for 4 seasons.

 

4) The minimum salary offer by a team in arbitration is $1.5M for the first 2 seasons of eligibility, then $2.5M for the last two seasons. Arbitration eligible players can negotiate higher salaries with their respective teams, but old arbitration panels will be abandoned. Arbitration panels will make rulings based on more modern statistical measures. Arbitration panels will have the authority to assign a salary that is between the team offer and player request, without necessarily having to choose one or the other.

 

5) A team can either offer or decline to offer arbitration to an arbitration eligible player. If the team declines, the player becomes a free agent. A team that declines to offer arbitration to an arbitration eligible player must pay the player a severance of $250,000.

 

6) Service time manipulation is ended. A player earns a full service year for any year they are on an MLB roster with the following exception:

- A player may serve ONE callup at the MLB level for no more than 15 calendar days without accruing a service year during the months of March thru August AND

 

- A player may be called up on September 1st or later and spend as many days on the roster as the team deems necessary for the remainder of the season in ONE season without accruing a service year.

 

If a team wishes to use both of these exceptions, they must both be used in the same season. A player who serves under either or both of these exceptions in one season will earn a full service year upon any future callup. Players will be paid at the prorated minimum MLB salary of $1M during these callups.

 

7) Players will be eligible for free agency upon accumulating 6 service years.

 

Just my two cents. I think that a 50/50 revenue split is the best for both sides, or close to it, but the way they divided up may need to be what needs to change. Owners need to accept higher wages for younger contributing players, which should result in a better balance in offers to both veterans and arbitration eligible players. Players need to accept that their 50% split distribution needs to be changed as well, and that in doing so, the Jason Heyward and Barry Zito contracts may become a thing of the past.