This post is inspired by the MLB Players Union's recent rejection of a plan to restructure Alex Rodriguez's contract. The Red Sox and Rangers had a deal in place, provided A-Rod's contract could be restructured. For some reason, such a move requires approval from the MLBPA. The basic reason for their denial is that the MLBPA receives a percentage of each union member's (that is every player's) salary. So, a reduction in A-Rod's salary, which would be for the good of A-Rod, Texas, Boston, and all of baseball would hurt the coffers of the MLBPA, which would be bad for them, so no deal. The MLBPA is the worst thing to ever happen to baseball.
I hate the Player's Association. Their greatest achievement, the free agency 1973-1976, is at best a debatable plus for the game. Everything else they've done contributes to the collapsing economic structure of MLB. I don't want to sound like I love the Owners and the commissioner's office, but I do generally feel that they are the ones who want to fix problems and make things better for MLB for the long run.
The MLBPA is the reason we now have a system in which the Yankees win every year and the Brewers never will again. George Steinbrenner and John Henry (Red Sox) are not the cause of baseball's diverse economics. They are simply the big dogs opporating in the system they've been given. They are committed to winning at all cost, and as a result they spend big money. The other end of the spectrum has teams that are owned by corparations who only care about the bottom line - profits. I see only two ways to fix the economic discrepancy - 1) Go back to the reserve clause as things were from the beginning until the mid 70's. This would allow teams to keep the good players they develop. If this was the case, Montreal would probably have a few championships by now. 2) Institute a salary cap - just like the other sports. A salary cap would of course need a salary floor too. For instance, the Yankees would be limited to spending 110 million on payroll, but the Brewers would be required to spend at least 80. I really believe something like this would be the best option.
The MLBPA is the reason steroid testing is a sham. They do not care about the long-term future of the game, they only care about making themselves wealthier now. The owners did manage to score a small victory in the most recent bargaining session (2002), and we can only hope they'll continue to make strides in the future. The other hope is that the steroid issue will break the union, but as long as the union is as strong as it is, the business side of the game will continue to decline.
Sorry for the rant.
Posted by at December 17, 2003 07:57 PM