So baseball can be played again in the USA: The tariff dispute in the professional league MLB is over, the new season starts on April 7th. The players’ union and the team owners agreed on this on Thursday – and ended the so-called after 99 days lock out, a construct that only exists in American professional sports with its guaranteed say: During this time, the players did not train with their teams, negotiations were held in Florida and then broken off again, the start of the season originally planned for the end of March was soon no longer possible to hold, the first rounds were canceled. It is only the fourth time in Major League Baseball history, the first time since 1995, that the season has not started on the originally scheduled date because of a wage dispute. But now the preparations are starting.
What was it about? And what does the agreement look like now? Of course it was about money, billions of dollars – and yet the debates shouldn’t be reduced to the fact that in professional sports the price screw keeps turning more and more. Unlike in European football, for example, with its constantly increasing transfer fees and consultant fees, in which many top clubs have long been in financial difficulties due to the permanent arms race. On the other hand, nothing has been heard of a US sports franchise with money problems for decades. And while in Germany the soccer champion was FC Bayern nine times in a row, there were eight different World Series champions in the MLB.
Key details of the MLB deal: Salary cap will now be $230 million per team per season, gradually increasing to $244 million by 2026; for every dollar more, a luxury tax is due from the clubs. The minimum salary for young players (previously $570,500) is now $700,000, rising to $780,000. And, beyond the money: Even in the National League – this is one of the two leagues that make up the MLB – there will be a “designated hitter” in the future (as has already been the case in the American League); the pitchers no longer necessarily have to go to the plate, which puts an end to the often grotesque attempts of the pitcher to bats.
In the future there will be twelve instead of ten playoff participants
Other changes: A lottery system at the talent exchange is intended to ensure that clubs no longer intentionally lose in the future in order to secure a better position in the right to vote for the greatest talents. In addition, rules for the next season are to be decided in the next 45 days, such as larger running times or a throwing clock, in order to reduce the gross playing time from the current three hours per game. Conclusion: It all makes a lot of sense, so the hard struggle of those involved for the common future of their sport was worth it. As is also evident from the fact that most are upset that for the first time in history the players will wear advertising on their jerseys and helmets – a sacrilege for traditionalists.
Announced the new agreements: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
(Photo: Bebeto Matthews/AP)
The change that will probably change the sport the most is this: There will now be twelve playoff participants instead of the previous ten. This is more serious than it first sounds. Because those who had no chance of getting into the elimination round early on sent away expensive players during the season to save money and create leeway. What that led to will be revealed in the TV series Ted Lasso wonderfully described as an answer to an English footballer’s question about what is happening in the USA in the last third of the season in view of the lack of promotion and relegation drama: “These are meaningless games in lifeless, half-empty arenas – and everyone seems to find that okay.”
“When the deal goes through, it’s going to be the craziest free-agent frenzy we’ve ever seen”
More playoff entrants should mean clubs invest more in the midfield for that title opportunity – the Washington Nationals won the 2019 World Series as the club with the eighth-best regular-season record. And it creates more excitement towards the end of this regular season with more clubs vying for the playoffs. The basketball league NBA has almost perfected this: 20 of the 30 teams are here, in the first half of the season it’s all about producing spectacular pictures, only then does it get serious.
So it’s about keeping the search for the best exciting for longer – because then more people are watching and provide more income. If that increases player wages (average spending per club was $132m last season, it’s likely to be $150m now) – without diverging the league on spending, as happens in European football – then it is all satisfied.
“When the deal goes through, it’s going to be the craziest free agent frenzy we’ve ever seen. Get out the popcorn,” wrote Joc Pederson, a long-time outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers and most recently in Chicago and Atlanta , at Twitter. Pederson is such a free agent, one without a contract, and because negotiations were forbidden before the settlement, things really get going now: Around 200 players can sign contracts, including industry giants such as Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Trevor Story, Clayton Kershaw and Chris Bryant. This creates excitement again, because pretty much every fan wants to know: Who is my favorite club signing, do we have a chance of playoffs and titles?