No Phillies Baseball Anytime Soon Because The Owners Want More Money
On March 27, two weeks after Covid-19 shut down all sports, the MLB & MLBPA agreed to a structure to return to baseball when deemed safe. This agreement was the first in any major sport league in the United States. Many believed it would give a leg up for baseball.
However, with NBA & NHL returns already agreed to and nearing, the MLB is back to square one.
On Saturday, the MLBPA rejected the latest proposal from the MLB to return to start the 2020 season. In the rejection, the MLBPA announced they will not submit a counter-proposal. This lead to a MLB response that has many concerned that the season may not happen.
“We are disappointed that the MLBPA has chosen not to negotiate in good faith over resumption of play after MLB has made three successive proposals that would provide players, clubs and our fans with an amicable resolution to a very difficult situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The MLBPA understands that the agreement reached on March 26th was premised on the parties’ mutual understanding that the players would be paid their full salaries only if play resumed in front of fans, and that another negotiation was to take place if clubs could not generate the billions of dollars of ticket revenue required to pay players. The MLBPA’s position that players are entitled to virtually all the revenue from a 2020 season played without fans is not fair to the thousands of other baseball employees that Clubs and our office are supporting financially during this very difficult 2020 season. We will evaluate the Union’s refusal to adhere to the terms of the March Agreement, and after consulting with ownership, determine the best course to bring baseball back to our fans.”
To break it down, the MLBPA would like to make some money for once. Since, over past 25 years, the MLB has taken the majority of revenues. But, the MLB wants more money & are using its employees as collateral.
This situation is as bad as it gets. Some have linked it to the 1994-95 strike. But, this is much worse. This is about the players finally saying enough is enough & not backing down this time. Which is very much justified.
Unfortunately, for fans of the game, this situation may be far from over. With a new CBA needed after next season, this may be round 1 in a 10 round fight. It’s something that could do permanent, unfixable damage to the sport that is already struggling among the top 4 in the United States.
But, it doesn’t stop there.
Yesterday, the MLB & Turner Sports agreed to a new multi-billion dollar deal for television rights to playoff games. An agreement that did not go over very well with the MLBPA. Who requested information on this deal two weeks ago.
“It’s now become apparent that these efforts have fallen upon deaf ears. In recent days, owners have decried the supposed unprofitability of owning a baseball team and the Commissioner has repeatedly threatened to schedule a dramatically shortened season unless players agree to hundreds of millions in further concessions. Our response has been consistent that such concessions are unwarranted, would be fundamentally unfair to players, and that our sport deserves the fullest 2020 season possible. These remain our positions today, particularly in light of new reports regarding MLB’s national television rights — information we requested from the league weeks ago but were never provided.”
This deal makes the owners look even more greedy. A deal like this doesn’t happen in two weeks. This deal has been in the works for a while. The owners tried to keep the dollar value silent to keep revenue, once again, away from the players.
The worst part about this is the owners are using their employees as collateral damage. Even with another check hitting their pockets from another TV deal. It has gotten to a point where the players want their fair share and will not take no for an answer.
However, with the agreement on March 27th, the players don’t have to change their answer & want to get back to playing baseball.
“Players want to play. It’s who we are and what we do. Since March, the Association has made it clear that our No.1 focus is playing the fullest season possible, as soon as possible, as safely as possible. Players agreed to billions in monetary concessions as a means to that end. And, in the face of repeated media leaks and misdirection, we made additional proposals to inject new revenues into the industry — proposals that would benefit the owners, players, broadcast partners, and fans alike. As a result, it unfortunately appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile. It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where.”
With time ticking & the MLBPA ready to play, the ball is in the MLBs hands. It is what they do with it to see where we go. But, don’t get your hopes up, this situation doesn’t seem like an end is in sight.