Yesterday, we learned that four teams refused to support Rob Manfred’s plan, which was to propose an increase of a few million dollars in order to reach a luxury tax threshold of $220 million in 2022.
Why? Because MLB’s “final offer” on Tuesday was, in the eyes of the four teams, too generous.
Four owners found the “final offer” too generous to the players
This will push players to ask for more skills, such as accumulating service time, for example.
Considering that $220M was very little, it was clear which teams thought that was too much.
Especially when learning that the bosses’ offer took into account the fact that the players’ meals were counted under the luxury tax. Really?
But eventually, Evan Drellich of The Athletic got his hands on the offending teams in question.
We’re talking about the Angels, Diamondbacks, Reds and Tigers.
Sources: Angels, Diamondbacks, Reds and Tigers owners opposed MLB luxury tax increase to $220 million. MLB also proposed including player meal money in calculation of luxury tax, which irked players. https://t.co/gBKrqAx9wV
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 4, 2022
It’s not just poor teams that voted against the project. A club like the Marlins, which Derek Jeter left because the club was not spending enough to his liking, notably voted for the offer of Rob Manfred to the players.
That said, the hateful David Samson confirmed that if he had still been in town, he would have voted against the offer.
I have said that as Marlins’ President, I would have voted “no” as well. Seems I would not have been alone. But, it’s meaningless without 8 “no” votes… https://t.co/WJBPvjPjlO
— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) March 3, 2022
But back to the teams. I’m not surprised to see Arizona in the lot. Ultimately, it can be the same for the Reds, who want to sell parts.
At the same time, if the A’s and the Rays can vote yes, everyone can, right?
I don’t understand why the Tigers, who invested $140 million in Javier Baez, voted no. The latter want to spend and vote to punish themselves for exceeding the salary cap (which is a strange concept at the base) means that the club does not want to put money on its players that much.
That said, in the end, the case of the Angels troubles me. After all, the club has put $671m on two players (Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon), has a lot of needs in the rotation and seems willing to spend. Seemed, at least.
If I put myself in the shoes of Shohei Ohtani, who doesn’t seem sure he wants to stay in Anaheim, I’m probably not in the category of satisfied customers. Why? Because I wonder if my landlord will want to pay me.
I think it might add drama in the file, knowing that the owner of the Angels did not want to return to the game quickly.
The first two series of the 2022 regular season have been completely erased from existence.
During his first series of 2021, Shohei Ohtani threw a 100.6 MPH pitch and hit a 115.2 MPH home run in the same inning. 🤯
Imagine if that never happened. pic.twitter.com/qWfWTmeTD7
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 2, 2022
I also have another theory on the (potential) reason why Arte Moreno did not want to come back quickly: if the lockout costs more than two regular season weeks, Shohei Ohtani will lose enough time on duty to become a free agent in 2025 only, not 2024.
Is this why the Angels tried to prevent the offer to the players? Maybe yes, maybe no.
But whatever the reason, Ohtani has to look at this and tell himself that he can’t wait to leave LA for a club that really wants to do everything to win – especially with the universal choice hitter coming.
The work stoppage is really causing big problems in the world of major league baseball.
