https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/01/18/watercooler-wednesday-21/
WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY.
Totally Tigers
Today, another opportunity for readers to discuss the hottest topics in a forum where thoughtful dialog and a variety of opinions are welcomed.
Let?s create some running conversational threads. And for those of you still going into offices, here?s a question to take with you ? or use via Zoom calls ? as you talk to your co-workers.
Here is today?s hot topic. For this blog only, a maximum of 6 sentences please.
One of the biggest subjects surrounding the new CBA is the issue of when players should be appropriately paid for their performance.
Currently, a team has complete control over a player for their first 6 (and often 7 years if they manipulate the service time clock) years. For some players, not accepting a multi-year contract from the team has resulted in punishment for the player, who ends up being kept in the minors and extending the time his organization over him beyond 6 years.
These years of team-control are often a player?s best and most productive years. And during this time, they are earning minimal salary.
This rule usually takes a player to their late 20?s and sometimes to their early 30?s before hitting free agency. At that time, many athletes have already hit their peak performance and thus become less valuable in free agency.
Over the past 5 years, what this timing has done is to reduce or eliminate the desirability of the average 30+ year old players. An increasing number of them are finding it harder to get another contract. And if they do, it is much shorter in length and less in pay than it was 5 years ago.
As a result, player salaries on average have gone down each year since 2017. Top players, with multi-year expensive contracts, make up approximately 8% of MLB?s contracts.
The current system highly favors owners who receive maximum talent for minimal pay.
The end result is that baseball is increasingly made up of both young players who are inexpensive and superstar athletes. Those in the middle who are older and solid players are increasingly being spurned.
A suggested new proposal has players reaching free agency earlier in their careers. Maybe as much as 1- 2 years earlier when they are still in their late 20?s. This would allow them to earn better contracts that are commensurate with their performance before reaching 30 when they are often being phased out from playing.
The downside of this option is that the younger athletes would probably spend fewer years with their original team before leaving.
Which side would you pick?
We?re making this hard today. No fence-straddling on this one. One vote and 1 argument for the side you picked and why.
Are you ready?
Should MLB keep the same free agency system?
1. Yes, keep the players under team control for 6-7 years. Add another catcher.
2. No, allow players to reach free agency earlier.
VOTE
