MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark yesterday issued a statement in response to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's comments Sunday, saying players are "rightfully frustrated by a two-year attack on free agency," according to Jesse Yomtov of USA TODAY. On Sunday, Manfred "blamed Clark for claiming last spring that certain teams weren't trying to win." Clark "stuck to his guns" yesterday and made it "clear he still feels that way." He said, "We’re operating in an environment in which an increasing number of clubs appear to be making little effort to improve their rosters, compete for a championship or justify the price of a ticket" (USA TODAY, 2/19).
PLAYERS ARE GETTING ANXIOUS: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale notes the slow market "has annoyed" Angels CF Mike Trout. He said, "Everybody sees it. It's obviously not good for baseball. You got two of the top guys that are not signed yet. Teams say they want to rebuild, why not start with the top guys" (USA TODAY, 2/19). Braves 2B Charlie Culberson: "I feel like it's kind of trending not the right way for us. Fans want to see those big-name players on teams. They don't want to see this happen. They want to see baseball" (TWITTER.com, 2/19). ESPN’s Buster Olney said he has “heard more rage from players” since the start of Spring Training over the slow free agent market “than I have ever heard in the time I’ve covered baseball.” However, that anger from many veteran players has "not really manifested into some sort of a plan” by the MLBPA. It will be "very interesting to see how the players association uses that as they move forward in conversations" with MLB. There are also "a lot of younger players leaping at contracts” because with talk of “labor strife you have young players -- almost like a run on a bank -- saying, ‘I better get my money while I can’” (“OTL,” ESPN, 2/18).
Bryant expects the next round of CBA negotiations to be intense after slow free agency markets recentlycubs
MORE TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL STRIKE: The AP's Ronald Blum noted players have become "increasingly outspoken about the slow pace of agreements and have mentioned the possibility of a work stoppage" in '22 (AP, 2/18). Cubs 3B and union rep Kris Bryant said that he "doesn’t know if the 'odd' free agent market is a result of collusion, but 'it seems like there’s something going on.'" He added, "It just seems like a storm [is] brewing right now." In Chicago, Gordon Wittenmyer notes Bryant heard Cardinals P Adam Wainwright's recent prediction that "without change a strike is '100 percent' certain, and he seems to agree." Bryant: "I feel like the last CBA we kind of got it stuck to us. I think what we have going for us is we realize we are the product; we kind of provide the entertainment on the field, and we know that. And I think in a couple of years, it’s going to be a dogfight" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/19).
OWNERS WEIGH IN: Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts said that he is "not 'thinking about' a potential strike." He added, "If there are issues between the union and the league we probably should start talking now" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/19). Red Sox Owner John Henry yesterday "stressed the need for the players union to engage with the owners’ negotiating committee to work on solutions to these kinds of issues." He said, "If the players are unhappy with this, then they should engage" (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 2/18). CBS Sports' Jim Bowden said the relationship between teams and players "needs to improve." Bowden: "Three years down the road, baseball will have a problem if things continue down this path" ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 2/18).
LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jared Diamond writes Philles P Aaron Nola and Yankees P Luis Severino are among the players in recent weeks who have "signed long-term extensions with their current teams," a sign that the "allure of becoming a free agent could be losing some of its shine." The market is "stuck in a deep freeze for the second straight winter." This shift is perhaps "prompting players to change how they calculate their career earning potential." There is "little doubt teams will use the less robust free-agent market to push young players to accept cheaper contracts that they never would have a few years ago" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/19).
