MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred today at the league's owners meetings will "vigorously discuss revenue-sharing among teams" for the next CBA, which expires in 10 months, marking the "most important quarterly meeting in years," according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. There were a "record four teams that paid luxury tax penalties this year," but the Dodgers and Yankees paid nearly $70M. The Red Sox and Giants combined for only $3.1M. The small-market clubs "will let it be known that it’s hardly a big enough piece to split among themselves." Pirates Owner Bob Nutting: "This collective bargaining agreement is going to be critically important for everyone. It’s important the way we structure the economics of the game. It’s important that smaller-market teams have the same access to talent, which is almost more important than dollars." Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner added, "We’re going to talk about every single thing, and revenue sharing will certainly be a part of that. Regardless of what I think, every collective bargaining agreement is a logical time to look at the whole system. To see how it’s affecting not just the payees, but the payers, and the industry as a whole. That’s what we’re going to do, and everybody knows that" (USA TODAY, 1/21).
TAKING NO PRECAUTIONS: Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson yesterday addressed MLB owners at the meetings in Coral Gables, discussing issues such as terrorism and security protocols, particularly in light of recent mass-shootings in Paris, California and elsewhere. MLB last year began using metal detectors at all 30 ballparks, and Johnson’s roughly hour-long address also covered other potential safety measures, such as larger security perimeters around ballparks and checking cars as they enter facility parking lots (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf: "There's got to be more security than there is now, I don't know what it will be. Everybody realizes that the world has changed and these people are never going to give up, so we have to give up some of our comforts." Braves Chair Emeritus Bill Bartholomay said of Johnson, "His message was more of the same: recognize the new realities." Marlins President David Samson added, "He pointed out some very interesting things that we all need to pay attention to, because we are part of maintaining public safety. What we try to do is walk the line between safety and enjoyment. ... The balance is really hard to walk, and what Secretary Johnson pointed out is that our most important job is to walk that balance and to be very aware when you're getting too far one way or the other" (AP, 1/20).
