MLB next labor battleground against MLBUA

It is expected that the next labor battle that will before MLB will come with the Player’s Union. Instead, the next battle facing Major League Baseball may be with the Umpire’s Association.

Over the past few months, there have been rumblings that all is not right when it comes to labor peace in Major League Baseball. Discussions for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and MLBPA are expected to be contentious at best, especially after the glacial pace of free agency over the past two seasons. Seeing players like Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel remain in free agency until after the MLB Draft is likely to only further tensions.

Instead, that may not be the next battleground that MLB faces. Tensions between the players, fans, the league, and the Major League Baseball Umpire’s Association may be about to come to a head.

While there had been annoyance due to the perceived arrogance of the umpiring crews, the horrendous calls, particularly with the strike zone, and the lack of accountability for the arbiters of the game, everything came to a head on Tuesday. The MBLUA took offense to the league suspending Manny Machado for one game, posting their grievances online. This led to players, such as Alex Wood, making their own comments about the umpires. MLB also joined in, denouncing the statement put forth by the umpires.

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Naturally, this has been considered, by the umpires, an attack on the umpires. They consider themselves an organization above reproach, one that does not need to answer to anyone. They are also a group that throws players and coaches out of the game for any perceived slight, going so far as to eject someone from the broadcast booth after an umpire was criticized.

It is seemingly a matter of time until the white armbands, signifying their displeasure when Ian Kinsler did not hold back in his criticism of Angel Hernandez, make a return. Only this time, the silent protest will be directed at more than just one player – it will be directed at the players and the league as well.

As the tensions between the players, league, and umpires continue to escalate, there is another interesting factor. The agreement between MLB and the MLBUA expires after this season. This is particularly interesting given the push for a robotic strike zone, something that the players also appear to desire, especially given an astonishing lack of consistency on balls and strikes.

Naturally, the league is going to want more accountability from the umpires. Fans and players, if their opinions have any sway, will want umpires to be disciplined for their behavior and escalations on the diamond. Umpires, meanwhile, will want to be further insulated from blame and critique, seeking to place themselves further above the game.

This will all come to a head in the next few months. Those two differing sides will look to find common ground for an agreement, and may find that there is not much there. In fact, this may be the next labor war when it comes to baseball, especially as the owners and players have been willing to come to the table and begin preliminary talks.

A labor war may be coming to Major League Baseball. It just may be with the umpires instead of the players.