Is MLB commissioner trying to divide and conquer?
Knicks talked to Dawn Staley. Boston out of WNBA expansion mix. Good or bad news for Connecticut? A’s manager buys home in Vegas burbs
Good morning, all. I hope your Tuesday and the second-half of 2025 are off to a terrific start.
The drumbeat is growing louder and labor strife in Major League Baseball seems right around the corner. Commissioner Rob Manfred sounded the clarion call with stories emerging over the weekend that he is attempting to go over the head of MLBPA head Tony Clark and negotiate directly with the rank-and-file. MLB’s contract with the association expires after the 2026 season.
Although no one will go on the record, more and more it seems the owners want a salary cap. A pitcher would rather walk the bases loaded, a hitter strike out four times in a game, before selling their collective bargaining soul to a salary cap. If both sides go to the mattresses on this issue, MLB could be in for plenty of inactivity in 2027. And don’t expect replacement players. Minor leaguers are now unionized and there is not one, who would cross a picket line.
There are stories emerging through back channels that some players are not happy with their leadership. The commissioner, who does address teams directly on an annual basis, seems to be exploiting the perceived division in those talks. Don’t forget Manfred was considered the game’s Darth Vader, when Bud Selig was commissioner and Manfred was chief negotiator with the association.
He has to walk a finer line these days as commissioner, but that has not stopped him from sowing division, although he would not describe it that way.
During a recent address to investors of the Atlanta Braves, Manfred stated:
There seems to be kind of a mismatch between what we see at the union leadership level and what the players are thinking. The strategy is to get directly to the players. I don’t think the leadership of this union is anxious to lead the way to change. So we need to energize the workforce in order to get them familiar with or supportive of the idea that maybe change in the system could be good for everybody.”
-Rob Manfred
If that doesn’t sound like circumventing leadership, I don’t know what does. According to The Athletic, Manfred starts every meeting by asking, “What does the current system do for players?” Then he tosses in a real doozie, reminding the players of the four major professional sports, baseball players’ salaries have been the slowest to increase.
As for MLBPA head Clark, he tends to hide behind statements and rarely talks in public. His militant demeanor doesn’t help either. Seems hard to believe this is the same guy who was Mr. Congenial, while playing for six teams in a 15-year career. In a statement to The Athletic, he called the commissioner’s latest approach a sales pitch “full of misleading or downright false statements.”
I keep telling people enjoy MLB now because in less than two years, we could have a labor war, irritating all and once again alienating some of the fanbase.
Here are some other DAN ON SPORTS top stories for Tuesday, July 1, 2025:
Abreu hits inside-the-park home run at Fenway
Severino’s ballpark comments could get him traded
WNBA to expand by three more teams. Boston out of mix. Is that good or bad news for the Connecticut Sun? Ownership has acknowledged it might consider putting the franchise on the block. Might a Boston-area group buy the team and move it to Boston? Just asking.
The Bold and the Beautiful. Are MLB and ESPN making nice-nice? This is becoming more predictable than Ridge dumping Brooke again for Taylor.
With team continuing to lose, Mets owner talks
You can’t make this up. Yankees reliever placed on IL following injury with medicine ball
The Lone Tree Broncos? Why not? The New York Giants and Jets play in New Jersey and the San Francisco 49ers call Santa Clara home.
Bengals and Browns stadium deals two different stories
Local business leaders begging Royals and Chiefs to stay
Steelers and Fish deal
NBA free agency has started an already there’s action
Michael Porter Jr. traded from Nuggets to Nets
Didn’t know the Pacific Ocean was that close to Texas. Texas State joins the PAC-12
Ex-Bruin Marchand staying with Florida. “Hmmm. Let’s see. Boston in January? Florida in January?”
Vegas Knights make big deal with Maple Leafs
Bueckers, Ogwumike WNBA ASG starters
Report: Knicks talked to Dawn Staley about head coaching job
Brown slated for second interview with Knicks
Are you serious? Predictions for last year’s Big 12 football winner were so off the mark conference athletic directors and coaches have discontinued preseason poll for 2025
For the naysayers and social media “influencers” who feel jilted and keep posting on You Tube the Athletics are not moving to Las Vegas, even though stadium groundbreaking took place last week? You better tell the Athletics manager Mark Kotsay. He just bought a home in suburban Vegas.
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DAN