MLB Owners Are Angry and It Has Nothing To Do With Kyle Tucker

A funny thing happened when the world learned how much the Los Angeles Dodgers were paying slugger Kyle Tucker in free agency.

The Athletic reported that other major league owners were said to be absolutely “raging” at the four-year, $240 million dollar deal Tucker signed Wednesday. The fat cats have been hissing so hard that they would now push for a salary cap “no matter what” amid collective bargaining negotiations with the players union.

A salary cap, like what other major sports have — which professional baseball players have said they never will agree to. But the Tucker deal isn’t what sealed the deal on the owners wanting a cap. Owners have been pushing for a cap all along.

Commissioner Rob Manfred was dropping hints last summer, which is why Bryce Harper impolitely asked him to leave the Phillies clubhouse one day. Owners were pushing for a cap 32 years ago when they trashed the World Series. MLB’s economic system, no matter if you call it imperfect, faltering or completely busted, wasn’t sent over the edge by one free-agent signing.

No matter: If we take “no matter what” to its logical conclusion, that means MLB fans are bound for a lockout after the 2026 season ends — which could mean no 2027 season in its entirety. They potentially wouldn’t just be canceling the World Series this time, like in ’94 when the players went on strike to fight a salary cap demand by owners. They’d be canceling the whole ballgame.

No Series.
No pennant race.
No trade deadline.
No All-Star Game.
No Home Run Derby.
No Jackie Robinson Day.
No Opening Day.
No Spring Training.
No Hot Stove.

Not a single free runner at second base starting in the 10th inning. The Manfred Man would go truly invisible.

Are you in a raging panic yet like the fat cats? Obviously, that’s what the owners want. They want fans to panic so they will help leverage the players into capitulating in order to create a cap and keep salaries lower. It’s a tale as old as the formation of the American League. Even older.

But holding down salaries would only put more money in Bob Nutting’s pocket, in Jerry Reinsdorf’s pocket. Gee, just what everyone wanted.

Otherwise, why would owners be raging for a cap? And why would players push so hard the other direction if it really meant they’d make more money? Neither side is stupid.

Neither are they altruistic.

MLB owners aren’t interested in competitive balance. If they were, revenue sharing already would be fairer. A plan would be in place to more evenly divide up digital rights. MLB owners need to sort something out: Do they want to win games or do they want to maximize profits?

Salary caps don’t help teams win. They help them make money.

Random MLB teams have a better chance to win the World Series than random NFL teams do. Results prove it. Salary restraints haven’t helped the Cleveland Browns win a Super Bowl, or even come close.

A salary cap won’t help the Pittsburgh Pirates win until they start running their team better, regardless of revenue disparities. It’s no more complicated than that.

It’s just easier for owners to blame greedy players for their own problems.

Like always.