On the eve of the MLB World Series, there is a realization that these might be the competition’s last games for a while.
Owners are pushing for a salary cap, which could prompt a lockout starting on Dec. 2 and result in canceled games next year.
“It would be a real bummer to lose a season, that’s for sure,” Tampa Bay Rays ace Drew Rasmussen said on Thursday ahead of the World Series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. “I think the industry as a whole is in way too good of a place.”
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen, right, celebrates their Game 6 MLB American League Championship Series win against the Cleveland Guardians in St Petersburg, Florida, on Monday.
Photo: AP
The World Series is scheduled to start at 8am today, Taiwan time, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
For the first since 1991, it is between teams both in the bottom half of payrolls: Milwaukee ranked 19th as of Aug. 31 and Tampa Bay 25th.
The MLB says that a cap is needed to help all teams compete more consistently, but players contend because of the method owners use to define expenses, a cap would lead to management taking a greater share of the sport’s revenue.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill celebrates after Game 4 of their MLB National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Thursday last week.
Photo: AP
“The system that’s being proposed, which is similar to other leagues in terms of revenue-sharing system, not only will help us compete, but more importantly all of the teams with lower payrolls, too, which is something also I think the fans want,” Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said.
MLB’s proposal would cap spending next year at US$245.3 million using figures for luxury tax payrolls, and limit a player to 15 percent of a team’s payroll.
Free agents would be capped at US$265 million over six seasons — far under Juan Soto’s record US$765 million, 15-year deal with the New York Mets.
The players’ association vows never to accept a cap.
“If they’re going to sit there and wave their little magic wand at us saying they’re going to get a salary cap, it’s not going to happen,” Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill said.
Negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement to replace the five-year deal expiring on Dec. 1 could turn into each side trying to outlast the other.
“My thought with it all is keep building on the former generations and build on what they gave us,” said Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, who is set to throw the first pitch of the World Series. “You don’t want to be the generation to send something backwards. You just keep building on what former generations have given you and hope for the best.”
Attanasio said that the Brewers ranked 11th in non-player baseball operations spending this year and the Rays were ninth.
The owner said that about 250 people report to general manager Matt Arnold.
Milwaukee was ranked 30th and last in market size in MLB and could become the first small-market team to win the title since the 2015 Kansas City Royals.
“We have to keep an eye on the present and one eye on the future in every move that we make. Every trade we have to think about that,” Arnold said. “There are tradeoffs for what you can do to help the team today and what that looks like going forward.”
Tampa Bay were No. 15 in the MLB market. While the Rays have not spent lavishly on major-league payroll, they were among the bigger spenders on player development this year.