Bruce Meyer in "Foul Territory'' segment: MLB's Proposals are a Bad Deal for Players and Fans
Bruc
e Meyer, the MLBPA's interim executive director discussed the latest in CBA talks in an appearance
Bruce Meyer, the MLBPA's interim executive director, discussed the latest in CBA talks in an appearance on the "Foul Territory'' podcast Wednesday, noting the players’ proposals are about making the game better, while the league’s are about protecting their profits.
Meyer pointed to the recent $4 billion sale price for the Los Angeles Angels — a franchise that owner Arte Moreno purchased for $183.5 million in 2003 — as further evidence that owners are thriving financially under the current system.
"They want a cap system because it'll increase their profits and they think it'll increase their franchise values,'' Meyer said. "That's it. That's why they want it. They don't want it because they think it's good for the fans."
Meyer also pointed to the success of the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, among other clubs, as an indication that small market franchises can succeed under the game's current revenue sharing system with effective management and a focus on winning over profits.
"From our standpoint, the issue is and has always been not teams that are spending too much or trying too hard to compete,'' Meyer said. "It's the teams that can afford to and are not spending as much as they can to try and compete. And all these teams can afford to do it ... you'd be surprised.
"We've made proposals that, in our view, would have a system that actually rewards and incentivizes teams that are trying to win. Not as currently happens — rewarding teams who collect this kind of corporate welfare. And they just put it in their pockets in the form of owner profits.''
For a link to Meyers' discussion with A.J. Pierzynski and Erik Kratz, click here: Watch full episode
