TAMPA – There's nothing like talking about the CBA to dampen spring training, especially if it appears that baseball could head towards another work stoppage after the latest agreement expires after the 2026 season.
But that's a sporting place. Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA executive director Tony Clark are ready to head into the season.
Clark was at Steinbrenner Field on Monday as part of a camp tour across MLB to address concerns among his unions regarding games, rules and economics.
The October 2024 game. Charles Wenzelberg
And Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner repeatedly said he doesn't think a $300 million salary is sustainable for the franchise, and he supports a pay cap if he comes to the floor, Clark replied Monday.
Asked about Steinbrenner's statement, Clark (who was a Yankee in 2004) paused before answering.
“In the year and year, there are teams that focus on putting the best teams on the field,” Clark said. “There are teams interested in having a system that provides a system that doesn't require you to make a particular decision. I had the opportunity to play for the Yankees in 2004, and we've been shortened. [after being] They increased their 3-0 playoffs against Boston. I still can't sleep well. Every time you run out of money, you look for a way to try to be in the final team position. I understand concerns around numbers, or points that are made around numbers. However, New York is in a fairly good financial position. ”
And, as Steinbrenner pointed out last month, the Yankees continue to have one of the best payroll in the game.
Their high-end tax salaries currently stand at around $307 million to $388 million, exceeding the highest tax standard of $303 million.
What's more harmful to the sport than whether the Yankees match the Dodgers or match the Mets dollars with dollars is that both sides are preparing for the fight even if a year remains before negotiations begin.
And once again the possibility of a salary cap becomes a problem.
“We don't need to have a cap to address the concerns that have been expressed,” Clark said of the league. “We made the proposal. There's a reason they want a salary cap and it's not tied to a competitive balance. It's tied to benefits ownership and the league gets. The game doesn't need that.”
Clark was also not moved by complaints about the Dodgers spending this offseason.
“What the Dodgers do is no different to what other teams have done in the past,” Clark said. “The sky has fallen into our industry for decades. What I think and I know is, when all 30 teams are focused on the position of the last team, players believe the game itself is in a great place. If all 30 teams choose it, we know that we can do it.”
