MLB Negotiations: A lack of creativity threatens the season

If nothing else, What these MLB negotiations have highlighted is a lack of creativity.

As it stands, a little over $8M per team — about 3.6% of Miami’s revenue in 2019 — stands in the middle of an agreement between MLB and it’s players. That’s about the equivalent of what guys like Joe Kelly and Drew Pomeranz make per season under their current contract.

So, what’s the hold-up? Why is the league dragging its feet on this?

One theory suggests that baseball is stalling. This theory, per Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports, suggests that “The owners… would love to fit in as few games as possible but would like to do it in such a way to avoid the players filing a grievance for bad faith negotiating.”

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

I have another theory, however, and this one suggests something a little less sinister, but can actually be true alongside Calcaterra’s theory. I believe that these negotiations have fallen victim to a lack of creativity on both sides of the argument, but mostly on the owners’ side.

You see, so long as there are no games, there will continue to be a lack of opportunity to make money.

Now, currently, the only way owners are seeking more revenue is in the form of an expanded postseason, which isn’t so bad of an idea. However, there are several other ways to increase revenue in order to pay their players.

First, take players up on their offer to sell more ads on uniforms. Sure, purists will throw their hands up in the air and express sorrow for the past. At the end of the day, however, the game on the field will remain the same, and all of the distractions around the uniforms will eventually die down.

Second, since stadiums will be empty, open up sections around your stadiums to sell more ads. Imagine Giancarlo Stanton hitting a home run into the State Farm bleachers or Xander Bogaerts fouling off a pitch into the T-Mobile seats in foul territory?

Finally, take full advantage of social media outlets, YouTube, and Twitch channels. Monetize live streams on YouTube and Twitch by opening up batting practice for fans to watch. Promote it heavily on all social media platforms.

Imagine, the Los Angeles Dodgers announcing LIVE BP on Instagram or Twitter, “Justin Turner at 5 PM, Cody Bellinger at 5:30 PM, and Mookie Betts at 6:00 PM LIVE on YouTube!” Thousands of fans would tune in to watch hitters smack balls deep into the seats or to hear players talk about their technique.

The point is the possibilities are endless, but they’re only available when games are being played.