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VF314 Live Chat - 3/9/2022
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Derek
12:00
Hey everyone. No news on the CBA just yet, but maybe something will break midway through the chat. Let's get to it.
Aaron
12:01
Would it be better off at this point if the players tried to bargain for a soft floor to go with the soft cap? A hard cap is a no-go for the MLBPA, at least unless it shifted in response to yearly revenues, which MLB probably doesn't want in turn.
Derek
12:02
I think a floor would be beneficial but I believe the players rejected it in early negotiations (partly because of a proposed 180M cap, which, lol). We definitely need to see something to get some of these teams to stop running out 40-60M payrolls like it's the 90s.
The issue with accepting a floor is that it will come with a cap, which the union won't go for, of course.
Jack R
12:02
If the CBT ends up around $232M will the Yankees be able to shoehorn a big ticket FA salary into their payroll and still stay under the cap? Will they have to dump some salary (Voit?) and how would they address their other needs like another starter, for example? Thanks!
Derek
12:04
I had the Yankees at around 229M when the offseason started (A look at the Yankees payroll entering the offseason - Views from 314 Ft.). It's still going to be extremely difficult to get under that first threshold based on the numbers currently being thrown around.
Cynically, it makes me wonder if the Yankees will try even harder to stay under a $230M threshold since they're already right there. When it was $210M, they were going to be over in 2022 no matter what, so maybe they were going to spend?
Billy MartinVanBuren Boys
12:05
Humor me here. Theoretically speaking is there anything besides ethics preventing a team from signing a major FA (Correa, Story, Kershaw, etc) to a minor league deal with crazy high $$ incentives for making the major league team out of Spring Training? (which of course they will)?
Derek
12:05
Players wouldn't go for that as union members.
Dansby SwanSong
12:06
An international draft will hurt big market teams like the Yankees, correct?  It's one competitive advantage they currently have.
Derek
12:07
Yeah, it'll be less access to top tier talent.
KB
12:08
Reactions to Randy Levine interview? With the exception of a few, most owners net worth is either very close or below their teams value. This suggests that for almost every owner a significant portion of thier net worth is tied to the money they make from the team. Wish baseball owners were independently rich and baseball their passion project, which would likely make them fight less over 10-20 or even 30 million dollars. Alas that is not the case (dont know if it was ever tho?).
Derek
12:10
I don't think what you're saying about owners is true at all.
Who of them isn't independently rich? And even if it's true that they rely on the money made from the team, they should just sell if it's not satisfying them. They'll make billion(s).
12:11
As for the Levine interview, I listened live and frankly there weren't any surprises to me. Just said a lot of stuff out of the owners' playbook.
Jack R
12:11
Any word on what's happening with the Rule 5 draft?  Will it be outright cancelled ?  The Yankees still have a lot of exposure there.
Derek
12:12
Teams want it to be canceled (surprise! they want to retain cheap control over prospects!), but I don't think there's been any clear reporting on what will happen with it.
Bart
12:13
Offbeat question -- Do you think the Yankees will trade/assign the rights to Russell Wilson to the Rockies since he was traded to the Broncos?  Remember he got an AB in spring training in 2018 for the Yankees
Derek
12:14
Only if they can get German Marquez in return.
Sam
12:14
I am sick of hearing about all these streaming deals. Ignoring that the priority should be the CBA, each and every deal makes watching baseball that much more challenging for fans. I think that's more damaging than any delays to the season. I don't really have a question, but I'm just dumbfounded how poor the optics are for MLB right now, and frustrated that a sport (the only sport) that I've ever loved watching is slipping between my fingers.
Derek
12:14
Yup, I hate it as much as you do too. Sounds like there are a few unreported deals in the hopper that MLB is keeping the lid on until a new CBA is struck.
12:15
Aside from not wanting to pay for all these streaming services, MLB does not seem to care that Friday nights in the summer are typically awful for ratings. Who is going to watch?
(talking about the Apple deal re: Fridays, btw)
Sticky Stuff
12:15
Is it safe to say the radio team needs a younger voice?  John misses too many calls and Suzyn, respect her for breaking a glass ceiling, but don't think she provides much insight or analysis.
Derek
12:16
For me, they're institutions and I don't want to see them go. But I get your sentiment to an extent, moreso with Sterling's ability simply to call play-by-play at this point. It's not good.
But damnit they are entertaining as hell.
Leo
12:17
What are your opinions on what baseball should do to get back some market share that it lost to basketball and football? Do a better job marketing players? Or will it forever be behind due to the nature of the sport and it being too boring for most casual sports fans?
Derek
12:18
Ship has sailed. Owners don't care enough. Yeah, it's partly marketing, but it's also simply access to the game. It's expensive at a youth level and they are making harder for everyone to watch with ease. On top of that we have more and more alternatives in today's world for entertainment.
Aaron
12:19
If an international draft is instituted, and some sort of soft cap remains or a hard one instituted, how dark is the outlook for the Yankees given that their advantages will either be taken away or ownership appears reluctant to exploit any that remain?
Derek
12:20
The report now is that MLB's proposal is to have it begin in 2024. It definitely will hurt the organization as a whole, but I think the player development has taken such great strides in recent years that I'm not feeling doom and gloom.
Rich
12:21
Do you have any insight into what went on with Low A Tampa last season?  It looks like that park was far and away the friendliest in Low A Southeast, notwithstanding the ABS variance.
Derek
12:21
It was hitter friendly, but certainly not the most in the league: Minor League Baseball Park Factors 2021 (baseballamerica.com)
12:22
Pt St Lucie, Bradenton, and Clearwater were all better hitter environments
Mo
12:23
What do u think about giving Betances or Andrew Miller another shot ?
Derek
12:24
On NRIs, maybe. I don't think there's enough in the tank to give them a major league deal.
12:25
Miller probably can still get one more major league deal though. Dellin will have to take a minor league one, I think.
Anthony
12:26
What baseball do you expect to see this season?
Derek
12:26
Assuming you're talking about the physical ball, who knows!
Good excuse to plug these two pieces:
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