December 14th, 2016 at 8:21 am 
by Ron Cervenka It is a topic, argument, issue, discussion, complaint (or whatever else you choose to call it) which, for the most part, seems to only come up at this time of year – at least in earnest. But it is the one topic, argument, issue, discussion, complaint which unquestionably causes more anguish and anxiety for baseball fans than having two outs in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and a 3-2 count on one of the best hitters in the game with your team’s closer trying to get that final out.
It is, of course, free agency, or at least the amount of money being paid to the most highly touted and sought-after free agents in the game.
When you stop and think about it for a minute (or even a second), it is impossible for the average blue-collar middle class income earner to even conceive the difference between earning $16 million a year and $17 million (or more) a year. I mean, I get that we’re only talking about a fraction of the so-called “one percenters” here, but really? Is there really that much difference in making an additional million or two a year when in reality they are already making more money than their children’s children’s children will be able to spent in their lifetimes?
Babe Ruth, the undisputed greatest baseball player of all time, earned a total of $856,850 during his 22-year Hall of Fame career. The MLB minimum salary in 2017 will be $535,000.
(AP photo)
The single and simplest argument that I often make (and the harshest of realities) is that “it’s not our money.” And while there are some who argue that it is our money (in the form of ever-increasing ticket prices, parking costs, concessions, merchandise, etc.), what it really boils down to is that if you are so appalled by these insane free agent contracts and/or by the ever-increasing cost to attend MLB games for what basically amounts to entertainment (like going to a movie, a Broadway show, the opera or the ballet) … don’t go. Contrary to what some of us believe (note the “us”), attending a baseball game (or all of them) is not a basic necessity of life for fans. (Did I really just say that?).
Early Tuesday morning while waiting for Costco to open, I was sitting in my car listening to MLB Network Radio’s Power Alley with co-hosts Jim Duquette and Mike Ferrin. One of their on-air guests was former MLB pitching great and future Hall of Fame hopeful Billy Wagoner. This was the first time that I had ever heard the seven-time All-Star and 16-year MLB veteran being interviewed and I was immediately impressed by his brutal honesty and endearing humility. Among the very first things that the (now) 45-year-old Marion, Virginia native and 1993 first-round draft pick said was: “None of us are worth what we get paid.”
And there you have it … perhaps the truest words you will hear a major league baseball player ever say.
It’s not that the “Elite 750” (as I affectionately call the 25 players from all 30 MLB teams) are not deserving of being well paid for being the best 750 baseball players in the world, it’s just that because of free agency – which officially began in 1975 as a result of the near-century-long Reserve clause that major league baseball players were unfairly subjected to and victimized by – is now completely out of control. The pendulum has completely swung the other way. And while 29 of the 30 MLB team owners voted on Tuesday to ratify the new five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) submitted by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), one has to wonder how much further that pendulum will swing before it either eventually breaks or at least begins to (somewhat) center itself. And while no one wants to see another work stoppage (players strike) of a lockout (owners strike), you almost get a sense that one or the other is inevitable at some point in the coming years (but fortunately not for at least another five years).
Although the delay in the Dodgers re-signing free agents Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen was insufferable for Dodger fans, in all honesty it was highly unlikely while the pair (and many of their Dodger teammates) were in Curaçao for Jansen’s wedding.
(Photo courtesy of @redturn2)
There isn’t a Dodger fan on the planet who isn’t absolutely ecstatic that Dodgers free agent third baseman Justin Turner and Dodgers free agent closer Kenley Jansen have both re-signed with their beloved team for four and five years respectively. And while the combined $144 million that the pair will receive alone is a mere $2 million less that the entire 2016 payroll of the other Los Angeles team (the one that isn’t even in Los Angeles County), the bottom line is that the 2017 Dodgers will very closely resemble the 2016 team that won the National League West division for a franchise record-setting fourth consecutive time; and what’s not to like about that.
…and does anybody really go to the opera or the ballet?
Play Ball!
Posted in 
The financial situation is totally out of control. The day will come when MLB will collapse under it’s own weight. I know that sounds a bit overdramatic (OK, a lot overdramatic) but the situation is that bad.
At present nobody can regain control. There are always teams that will overspend, maybe win some, then do a fire sale. To be competitive other teams, who are trying to build for the long term, either accept failure or give up their long term goals.
They need to solve this problem now, but it won’t happen. Any effort by MLB to control salaries will be met with opposition by MLBPA. So it will continue unchecked until the whole system collapses. Then everybody loses.
Of course, a return to the old, owner controlled, system wouldn’t work either, even if it was possible to do it. I’m currently reading “The Last Innocents” (thank you, Ron) period. I really had no idea how poorly players were treated in those days.
I can only assume that you are unaware the MLB.com (through its many different avenues, especially MLB Advanced Media [aka “BAM”]) turned a 10 billion (with a “B”) profit in 2016. The only weight that it is going to collapse under it the weight of that 10 billion dollars.
Ridiculous is too polite a word for these contracts. However, it will continue until it can’t.
My main concern in the whole money aspect of the game is very simple. As far as I know the pay scale for minor league levels has not increased in the new CBA. If it hasit will be minimal. Minor league players are the real foundation of MLB yet get paid less than minimum wage especially at the lower level.
CBA IX B “The Minor League minimum salary will increase from $82,700 in 2016 to: $86,500 in 2017; $88,000 in 2018; $89,500 in 2019; and be subject to cost-of-living adjustment in 2020 and 2021.”
Were they really making that much in ’16?
RR – that must apply to players at AAA level send down from the MLB team.
OK, that makes some sense. I seem to remember reading sometime back that a player is elegible for MLBPA membership as soon as he gets to the majors, and doesn’t forfiet it if sent back.
So this is specifically for union members?
I think perhaps once they get on the 40-man roster and sent down.
Roland Hemond said it also: “Baseball is entertainment, though for us it’s almost a religion,” says Hemond. “We have to remind ourselves we’re providing entertainment, and people can live without it. That’s why you should nurture it and respect it and recognize that we’re not in the medical field or in the food field. We’re not a necessity.”
And you are right. Going to a baseball game is a choice. The only difficulty with that is that as the cost of attending games continues to go up, more fans, perhaps young fans, have only one choice and that is not to go a game because of the cost.
Ron, love the sight. My Dad has been a Dodger fan since 1959 when he was 8 years old. We took him to LA for a couple games last August and saw the huge comeback against the Diamondbacks. And during the stadium tour, I saw your assigned seat in the pressbox. Went to Phillipes for a french dip… Best trip ever!
Concerning MLB salaries, its hard for the son of a farmer and a teacher to wrap my head around it all. It’s a reflection of what our society values… If education was as high a priority as entertainment, every teacher would make 6 figures. Its not just baseball players making multi-generational wealth either. Musicians, movie stars, TV personalities etc…
I love baseball, especially because its the everymans game (and maybe someday a woman too). And I love the Dodgers because they lead the charge in the shift of paradigms… Jackie Robinson, movie out west, paying SK, and DD $100,000, Fernando, Nomo, et all. The future is bright for the Dodgers, and baseball in general, so long as our country and the world at large keep spinning along as they have. Fingers crossed.
Thank you for the very kind words BDN. I am flattered that you not only saw my assigned seat in the VSPB but that you actually remember seeing it – lol!
Based on your numbers, your dad and I are roughly the same age (~2 years).
You are definitely in good company when you visit this site as our very own Harold Uhlman (Bluenose Dodger) is a retired school teacher/administrator. I have, for my entire life, felt that our society’s most important people – our educators – are the most grossly underpaid members of our so-called “intelligent society.” And while many often kid that if you are unable to get a job within your chosen field of study you can always teach it, gifted educators are not nearly as prevalent as those kidders might think.
You and I are definitely on the same page regarding the financial aspects of the game of (major league) baseball. In my haste to punch out this article I neglected to mention that minor league baseball (MiLB) is still the greatest bargain in town – bar none.
Don’t be a stranger, drop in on us (and feel free to comment) often.
Thanks again for the kind words.
RC
I don’t see anything to complain about.