By Owen Russell
As of Monday, Feb. 28 the MLB has been locked out since December 2021. The current lockout, voted on unanimously by MLB owners, is the first work stoppage since 1994. After the expiration of 2016’s collective bargaining agreement, the players’ union and owners have been unable to agree upon a deal. Now in its third month, the lockout has already canceled multiple spring training exhibitions. As the clock keeps ticking, MLB faces the real possibility of missing regular season games. Many fans are left wondering, “How did we get here?”
To boil it down simply, the players’ union is fighting for better pay. While many assume that Major League Baseball players are all millionaires, that’s far from the truth. The average player salary has slid 30 percent since 2015, according to a study done by the Associated Press. On top of that, less than half of the league had salaries over $1 million dollars at the start of 2021. In essence, the players’ union is fighting for the little guy – players who are not star level talent, and may only last a short time in the MLB.
While even the poorest MLB player is making triple figures, it is hard to argue that they are paid reasonably. MLB’s revenue continues to increase (outside of 2020), with some teams setting franchise records for revenue like the Atlanta Braves, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With teams continuing to see profits rise, the union wants to make sure that players earn a fair share. And while payment seems to be the main issue between players and owners, it is not the only point of contention.
Competitive imbalance has run wild through baseball in recent years. Certain teams choose to forgo spending the big bucks, or “tank,” in order to hoard young prospects and draft picks. While teams like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers consistently have the highest payrolls in baseball, teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins have practically refused to pay big name talent; instead, they opt to trade players before their contract would require a hefty extension. The players’ union wants to create a more competitive league, encouraging teams to spend more money. As MLBPA President Tony Clark told the Athletic back in November, “Competitive integrity, integrity in the system, and competition on any given night has been the focus, will continue to be the focus.”
Now that is a lot of technical minutiae to swallow all at once. All the average fan wants to know is if they’ll be able to enjoy a Major League Baseball game this year. Quite frankly, it’s unclear. As time continues to pass, the season becomes more and more in jeopardy. Even if the two sides get a deal done soon, it is more than likely that Opening Day will be delayed and regular season games will be canceled. For many, another shortened season so soon after 2020 would be a heartbreaker.
If disaster strikes, and there is no MLB season this year, how will people get their baseball fix? Luckily, the Major League lockout does not affect Minor League Baseball. So New Yorkers can still trek to Coney Island and enjoy a Nathan’s hot dog while watching the Mets’ brightest young prospects in action for the Brooklyn Cyclones. If Coney Island is too out of the way, the Staten Island Ferryhawks will play their inaugural season as part of the Independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Not to mention that a slew of collegiate baseball teams are scattered all throughout New York City, including the Brooklyn College Women’s Softball team, who start their season Mar. 9. Even if the MLB goes dark, New Yorkers can still spend summer at the ballpark.
From the bleachers, it is easy to imagine MLB players as larger than life. Titans of sport who can throw 100mph and hit the ball 500 feet through air. It is moments like now that ground the game and humanize the players.