MLB teams by Wednesday must tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players to keep them from entering free agency, but during baseball's "nuclear winter," it is "widely expected that there will be more non-tenders than ever before," according to Sean McAdam of the BOSTON SPORTS JOURNAL. The uncertainty around the '21 MLB season "means more substantial financial losses -- at least for the first half of the season," and that has owners "ordering their front offices to slash payroll." A few teams -- including the Mets and Blue Jays -- are "positioned to buck the trend, but they're the exception, not the rule." Teams "forfeited significant revenues" in '20, with many clubs "suffering nine-figure losses" (BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.com, 11/28). One player agent said, "I'd expect more movement throughout the league in the coming weeks. It's been as quiet as we thought it would be and once the non-tendered guys hit the market this week, we'll have a better read on what’s available and you'd think that's when it will start to pick up." The agent added the Mets "will be in the mix more than they have in the past" (N.Y. POST, 11/29).
UP IN THE AIR: In N.Y., Bill Madden noted players are "facing a potentially lean offseason in which nobody has any idea what the owners' revenues are going to be," or when the '21 season is "even going to begin, and with how many games." The only thing that "appears certain is that, with a few exceptions, long-term (3 or more years) megabucks contracts aren't going to be in the offing this winter." Many non-tendered veteran players in the $2-8M range, are "going to be left without a chair." Despite this, MLB agent Scott Boras has been "telling all of his clients that everything is going to be back to normal" -- and, as such, "acting accordingly in making his typically exorbitant demands for their services." Apparently, MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark is "taking the same stance." But the owners and players have "barely talked about start-up plans for next season." A club exec said, "Even if there’s vaccines available next month, with all the COVID restrictions there’s no way we’re going to be able to have spring training in February and March." Madden: "More likely, we're looking at spring training in April and a regular 'fannies in the seats' season beginning sometime in May -- likely shortened to around 130 games, which will mean more lost revenue for the clubs" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/29).
