2019-2020 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes Discussion

[andyb]

The parameters of the proposal are coming into focus:

• paired regional divisions (i.e. NL East with AL East). For some reason the Braves were not in the east when the first version of this proposal came out. 12/13 games against 4 in-division opponents (48-52). 6 games against the other division (30 total). 78-82 games total
• June Spring Training, probably in home stadiums. No games other than internal scrimmages
• 30 man roster, 20 man taxi squad (assumes no minors I guess. So this is the 40-man roster plus 10 more players that could be high level prospects (like Bohm or Howard) or maybe more AAAA players like Josh Harrison. No idea how they would deal with waivers and options.
• Start around July 4 weekend.
• 14 team playoffs (by traditional league). 3 division winners, 4 wild card. Best record bye. Other 2 division winners plus best wild card host other 3 wild cards for a 3-game play in series
• 50/50 revenue split. Assume much more revenue sharing. Player split up from 48% that was leaked. As I alluded before, this is worse for players than owners because of shorter careers. Though I assume there might be a deal at 52%-54% of revenues.

No idea if this will happen as the virus plays by its own rules. Probably as good a plan as any other league has at the moment.

Sources: MLB owners OK proposal for July start

[andyb]

One question with Bohm and Howard here is what to do with them if it is impossible for them to get AAA experience? I assume they could hold them off for 10-15 games to get the extra year of service time, but I really think Bohm needed defensive work for a couple of months and Howard really needs to pitch with the AAA/MLB baseball. Putting them in this year might be throwing them to the wolves.

Unless they outright win a job in Spring Training, I might be resigned to not using either this year no matter how tempting it would be. Or at least go through half the games and hope there is some AAA type competition that evolves in Spring Training sites.

[allentown]

Since there likely won't be minor league play, a first round college pitcher might go right to MLB on the expanded 40-man roster. Even with top talent, this would have been difficult in prior seasons, because of wear-and-tear of college season, but now all the college pitching draftees should be very well rested. How many teams will have 40 other players who would give more value to big team than a first-round college pitcher. First-time-around-the-league effect may also benefit them. MLB pitching coaches get to tweak their approach in the shortened ST, so opposing teams will not have much idea what to expect from them.

[rpmcmurphy]

I’d be more inclined to give Bohm a real shot, especially if there is a universal DH. I would have Howard on the roster. I think that he would benefit from working with the big league coaches and players, but unless he is very impressive in the training period I would not want to use him much, especially early on.

Although I will be very pleased if a season happens, I will believe it when I see it. The same is true for the other sports. Even though the stats would count and be official, this baseball season will not feel the same and will forever be regarded by many as a weird one-off exhibition season. At least hopefully a one-off.

[zambonir]

I would think that while there is not going to be a minor league season with spectators in AAA or below, there may still be some kind of complex league, including players from the higher levels and the taxi squad?

On another note:

Andy Martino on Twitter

[bkeich]

I think we will probably see Bohm at 3B sooner rather than later.

It would have been nice to have a AAA season for Bohm to hone his skills in, but frankly I just dont see that happening. I think there is a 5% chance you might see a "pseudo"-AAA using the stadiums and the taxi squads that teams will have, but my guess is those taxi squads will be in teams spring training complexes and might play some unofficial games against each other.

This is a lost season, if it even happens. If the Phils were smart they would throw Bohm in the mix with time off for mental breaks and to work on this skills and let him learn against specific pitchers. The Phils probably are probably still only a .500 team, so it is not like they are going to risk some championship season by having him commit errors or having Howard get a little pounded.

[andyb]

Orioles saving their pennies by releasing lots of their organizational minor leaguers:

Orioles Release 37 Minor Leaguers

It will be interesting if other teams do this. I have no idea if there are going to be any minor league games this year. DSL seems likely in some form. Then probably some complex stuff that looks like extended Spring. I could also see a higher level version of the Arizona League in both Arizona and Florida for AAA and AA level prospects. Beyond that maybe nothing.

Even if they are not paying them, teams might question why they keep a 24-year-old college player in Low A. Or a 22-year-old Dominican player who is still in short season ball. If there are no reps to develop them, might as well let them go. I am not endorsing this, and I hope good organizations can avoid it, but this seems to be the future. MLB organizations releasing a bunch of players. Maybe they won't have enough players to field that extra minor league team by the time they are negotiating to cut it.

[zambonir]

Rosenthal: Angels aggressively furloughing employees, scouts...

At least if the Phillies do anything to cut costs they've promise to keep all the employees on.

[Philsmania]

Rosenthal: Angels aggressively furloughing employees, scouts...

At least if the Phillies do anything to cut costs they've promise to keep all the employees on.

Middleton doesn't strike me as a warm fuzzy (or particularly nice) guy but there may well be some principle behind his generous philanthropic efforts.

[zambonir]

He can also afford it, not that Moreno can't. Some teams are going to treat this like a budget item - including cutting player payroll next year - and others will just take the hit. With so many front offices viewing human scouts as a luxury item (much like extra minor league teams) to begin with, this just accelerates the process.

We'll see what Middleton does if there is actually no season, or in between seasons. I don't imagine the same size sales and marketing staff is going to be required heading into 2021 (though there will certainly be a lot of hard work required to deal with the likely decline in group outings, corporate season ticketholders and individual sales).

[andyb]

A's to stop paying their minor leaguers the $400 weekly stipend after May 31st.

Oakland Athletics won’t pay minor leaguers for rest of 2020 season

Chances of any sort of minor league play seem to be gravitating towards zero. Was at least hoping for extended Spring complex leagues after the draft. At least for the better prospects.

[bkeich]

Will be interesting to see if some lawyer tries to make a case for “they are now free agents”. If something like that happens they could be way, way ahead.

[zambonir]

I think they'd still have to lose the anti-trust exemption (or we'd have to have a very different federal court system than is currently evolving) for the players to get anywhere with that, but yes, it is definitely coming up.

[andyb]

The players responded with an appeal to play more games (100?) and keep the pro-rated salary. I think the end game they want is to play 100 but get pro-rated pay for 82 or something like that. I assume the 100 would have some 7-inning double headers in there. And the owner reaction is that these double-headers would sell fewer TV ads and of course require expanded rosters - so not too much savings.

I still really think deferred payment is the players' best endgame. 82 games. Pro-rated salaries. Owners might make a little more in the expanded postseason rounds. And 50% of salary gets deferred for a year or two. I think trying to play 100 games is just a pipe dream. As is scheduling 100 games in like 90-100 days with double-headers and few off days. Teams should have close to the normal number of off days or there will just be more injuries.

[zambonir]

And the owner reaction is that these double-headers would sell fewer TV ads and of course require expanded rosters - so not too much savings.

How is that supposed to work anyway? Does the "taxi squad" just get their normal AAA play when they're not on the big league team. I though the 25-man was going to expand to 28 or 30 anyway (which actually will cost the owners some money).

[andyb]

Not sure they spelled it out, but I assumed the 28 or 30-man official roster gets service time and major league pay. Everyone else on the 50 probably gets treated like a 40-man roster regular which is like a $150K minimum. So they would need to pay 10 extra players the 40-man minimum and up to 4 extra players the major league minimum. So that could be another pro-rated $4 or $5 million.

[zambonir]

The player proposal doesn't really make sense to me. Right or wrong, the ownership position is that every game loses money if salaries don't go down. So adding games doesn't help (let alone doubleheaders as you note). And if anything there's going to be excess TV inventory, an expanded schedule isn't going to get you that much more from ESPN as they try to show the NBA and even MLS's tournament.

The only creative way to generate more revenue would be to expand the playoffs rather than the regular season. A play-in round would get TV cash that 18 more regular season games would not.

[zambonir]

Well, it's finally happened. Scott Boras is 100% right.

Boras to clients: Don't 'bail out' MLB owners

"Owners are asking for more salary cuts to bail them out of the investment decisions they have made," Boras said. "If this was just about baseball, playing games would give the owners enough money to pay the players their full prorated salaries and run the baseball organization. The owners' current problem is a result of the money they borrowed when they purchased their franchises, renovated their stadiums or developed land around their ballparks. This type of financing is allowed and encouraged by MLB because it has resulted in significant franchise valuations.

[zambonir]

Here's a diversion

It Took 35 Years, but Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” Is Finally Perfect

[xogfog]

Wow, since when have lyrics had to be 100% correct in their references? I'm not a fan of Springsteen, but jeez, if you can't make the connection that speedball = fastball in the world of poetic license, then you are dense.