Word around campus is that the Major League Baseball Player’s Association is putting some pressure on CC Sabathia to accept the New York Yankees ridiculous offer of six years, $140 million.

Just as we’ve seen in years past, the MLBPA is butting their heads into things that they should stay out of. Yes, Sabathia accepting this contract, no matter how ridiculous it is compared to other offers, will raise market values around the league. But should a player have to take the most money every time? What’s the point of free agent negotiations if the only thing that matters is bottom line dollar figures.

What happens when a player wants to play for a team, but that team cannot afford his market value? What if you want to stay with the team you are with, but they can’t offer you as much as a New York team?

According to the MLBPA, you should follow the money, winning or personal preference be damned.

Remember when A-Rod was traded to the Red Sox? You don’t because it didn’t happen. Well, it did, but the MLBPA wouldn’t allow A-Rod to renegotiate his contract to take less money, so the deal didn’t end up working out.

The game’s highest paid player wanted to play for a discount for a particular team. The union does not allow this, and A-Rod was instead dealt to the Yankees. Against the wishes of the player, the union intervened and disallowed a voluntary pay cut.

The Major League Baseball Player’s Association is one of the strongest unions in the world. They are the only professional sports union that has no salary cap. They resisted drug testing for a long time. They basically do whatever they want to do.

Now, they want to tell free agents where to sign.

CC Sabathia is arguably the best pitcher in baseball in the prime of his career. He will be a rich man no matter where he signs. If he wants to stay in Milwuakee because he enjoyed his time there last season, no one should be pressuring him to do something else. If he does not want to live in New York, or work for Hank Steinbrenner, or deal with the New York media, he shouldn’t be pressured to do so because they offered him the most money.

By this logic, all of baseball’s top free agents should end up in New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles. This seems to be what the MLBPA wants. They are actively fighting parity and success of small market teams.

Their idea is that if Sabathia takes less than the top offer, it is setting a precedent that will mean lower prices will be paid to other free agents this year, as well as the top pitching free agent next year. They are basically treating this situation like the NFL draft. Johan Santana was the top free agent pitcher in 2008 and got X amount of money. Sabathia is the top guy in 2009 and should get slightly more than X amount of money. Then next year’s top free agent pitcher could expect to make a small percentage more than Sabathia.

But that’s not how things work. If the teams can’t afford it, they can’t afford it. Sabathia has earned the right to pick whatever team he wants to sign with.

The player’s union should keep their mouths shut and stay out of this. It’s none of their business. Every year, I respect Barry Bonds more and more for opting out of the union. I just wish more players would follow him.

Share this story...

Discussion

No comments for “MLB Player’s Union Crossing the Line?”

Post a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.