The CBA After 2026 Season

[fjk090852-7]

Recently Bob Nutting had a conversation with Jason Mackey, and he said he wants to be involved in the next CBA discussions. This is probably not word for word , but it is close to what he indicated. Today I heard on the Fan radio broadcast a discussion about the upcoming CBA. As I listened there was talk about a ceiling and floor for teams, but the guest said he doubted the players would not agree on a ceiling, but a floor possibility was maybe 50 to 50 chance. In my simple mind I cannot see why the players and owners would not agree to a floor. All teams get revenue sharing as well as they share major network money ( such as Fox ). Those monies should be spent on team payrolls which all owners should do. Players too, should want a floor because with a floor, teams like the Pirates who spend little on payroll would have to increase payroll to retain or acquire free agent players. To me a floor is a win for both sides. In a way there is a cap already in baseball because teams which exceed a certain threshold must pay a tax. It isn't a hard cap, but it acts like a cap. Also if a salary floor was implemented, it would contain some type of annual escalator which could tie into some formula. I guess we will wait until after next season if a floor would be included into the new CBA.

[mouse]

If I recall correctly, the players before declined on the idea of a floor as it's then a simple step to a ceiling and they don't want to start down that road. In a sense there is a floor already (the minimum salary times 26 at the ML level). Maybe they can tie amount spent on the ML team to revenue sharing without calling it a floor.

[Doc]

I'm not sure the owners favor a floor. The small market owners certainly aren't in favor of one or they'd be spending more now. The large market owners would be opposed because, under a floor, they'd have to share the star players with far more teams. That would likely mean they'd have greater competition for playoff spots as the smaller market teams would get better. They like the way it is now where a third of the teams are eliminated before the season even starts. My guess is that the owners, together, have determined that the league earns the most revenues for all of them under the current system. With the Pirates being one the most-profitable franchises in baseball, it's proof that even the consistently bad organizations are awash in money.

[Possum]

I was listening to DK Sports the other day and Dejean said that the only way a salary cap and floor would need the owners stand tall against the MLBPA and shutdown the season. Makes sense to me but will it happen.

[fjk090852-7]

I was listening to DK Sports the other day and Dejean said that the only way a salary cap and floor would need the owners stand tall against the MLBPA and shutdown the season. Makes sense to me but will it happen.

If it helps the economics of Baseball I am all in favor of a lost season.

[3pirates3]

Nutting claims they've never used market size or the economics of baseball as an excuse. Except they've done so multiple times.

"We're always going to be an organization that has guys learning at the major league level. That's the reality of markets and revenue streams such as ours."

"We can't spend the amount of money it takes to bring in a top-of-the-rotation starter or a middle-of-the-lineup bat. Or, really, a middle-of-the-rotation starter or just an everyday player."

"Asked Bob Nutting what it will take for Pirates to break cycle of 'develop, then sell when gets too costly.' Answer: 'I think you'd have a fundamental redesign of the economics of baseball, that's not what we're going to have.'"

[Possum]

Nutting claims they've never used market size or the economics of baseball as an excuse. Except they've done so multiple times.

"We're always going to be an organization that has guys learning at the major league level. That's the reality of markets and revenue streams such as ours."

"We can't spend the amount of money it takes to bring in a top-of-the-rotation starter or a middle-of-the-lineup bat. Or, really, a middle-of-the-rotation starter or just an everyday player."

"Asked Bob Nutting what it will take for Pirates to break cycle of 'develop, then sell when gets too costly.' Answer: 'I think you'd have a fundamental redesign of the economics of baseball, that's not what we're going to have.'"

What is your source of the info about what Nutting has said on the subject?

[3pirates3]

What is your source of the info about what Nutting has said on the subject?

https://x.com/WillGravesAP/status/953072371505750018

[Ecbucs]

I'm not sure the owners favor a floor. The small market owners certainly aren't in favor of one or they'd be spending more now. The large market owners would be opposed because, under a floor, they'd have to share the star players with far more teams. That would likely mean they'd have greater competition for playoff spots as the smaller market teams would get better. They like the way it is now where a third of the teams are eliminated before the season even starts. My guess is that the owners, together, have determined that the league earns the most revenues for all of them under the current system. With the Pirates being one the most-profitable franchises in baseball, it's proof that even the consistently bad organizations are awash in money.

I think this is exactly right. To have a floor and cap the owners need to come together and it probably needs to be close to 100% not just two thirds or three fourths. For this subject it is easier for the players to be on the same page.

[Doc]

I'm not sure the owners favor a floor. The small market owners certainly aren't in favor of one or they'd be spending more now. The large market owners would be opposed because, under a floor, they'd have to share the star players with far more teams. That would likely mean they'd have greater competition for playoff spots as the smaller market teams would get better. They like the way it is now where a third of the teams are eliminated before the season even starts. My guess is that the owners, together, have determined that the league earns the most revenues for all of them under the current system. With the Pirates being one the most-profitable franchises in baseball, it's proof that even the consistently bad organizations are awash in money.

I think this is exactly right. To have a floor and cap the owners need to come together and it probably needs to be close to 100% not just two thirds or three fourths. For this subject it is easier for the players to be on the same page.

Through all the previous contract negotiations, the owners have stuck together. Of course, we don’t know how much the small market owners have tried to pressure the others but, so far, the big market guys have been able to convince them to toe the line. And again, it’s my guess that the small market owners realize they likely couldn’t be as profitable if they tried to spend like the big market guys do. Plus, they couldn’t keep pace for any length of time.

I think the small market owners realize the risks it would take to try to win a title are greater than the benefit of winning one. So they take the easy road, as Nutting has done, and they don’t bother. But impose a cap and a floor and it forces them to try. They would still need revenue sharing but the fans in the small markets would get a much better product and a legitimate chance to see a world championship season. But who among them cares about the fans?