MLB surprised the Players Association this week by saying they are unwilling to reschedule any lost games resulting from delayed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations.
It could very well be a move to put some pressure onto players.
Players know that if the games aren’t rescheduled, it would result in a payment loss for them.
They are willing to navigate through doubleheaders and few days of rest in order to play 162 games, but MLB isn’t.
That has caused some angry responses by players all over Twitter, and for good reason.
However, players also have their weapons.
“If the season is shortened, MLB says the players would not be paid in full. If the players are not to be paid in full, the union can turn around and refuse to approve expanded playoffs, a loss of about $100 million in revenue,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported this week.
If the season is shortened, MLB says the players would not be paid in full. If the players are not to be paid in full, the union can turn around and refuse to approve expanded playoffs, a loss of about $100 million in revenue.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 23, 2022
Owners Surely Won’t Like The Idea Of Losing $100 Million
Owners are all (or most, at least) very wealthy, but it’s hard to envision them as being open to losing $100 million with ease.
Expanded playoffs is something that has been on the league’s mind for a while now.
But just like the owners used the universal designated hitter as a bargaining chip for a while before approving it, players can use the expanded playoffs to their benefit, too.
Players are compensated for regular season games, but the payment structure is different in the postseason and it greatly favors owners.
Of course, players of some specific teams wouldn’t mind an improved opportunity to make the playoffs, but all things considered, it’s something the league wants much more than players.
The next few days will be crucial in negotiations and, specifically, the future of the expanded playoffs idea.
NEXT: MLB Fan Sums Up How Everyone Is Feeling