Rob Manfred keeps finding ways to be utterly hated by players
At this point in time, Rob Manfred may be the most hated man in baseball. Between his attempts to gaslight the players during CBA negotiations, rule changes that no one wanted, and such moments as referring to the World Series trophy as ‘a chunk of metal,’ a great deal of respect for him has disappeared.
Manfred and the league are finding new ways to be hated by the players as well. They are attempting to claim that minor league players should not be paid during spring training as their training is more valuable than any compensation they would receive.
MLB feels minor leaguers should be paid in opportunity
Opportunity is certainly important. But so are things such as being able to afford groceries and housing. As baseball is a full time job and the players are expected to work on their craft and stay in peak shape, there are no opportunities to get a part time job to supplement their income. Or, in the case of spring training, to actually have an income.
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It is not as though the league and owners cannot afford to pay their minor leaguers during spring training. They agreed to provide housing during the season after numerous players took to social media to point out their living situations, hotel accommodations, and the ‘meals’ they were given. The league was essentially shamed into doing better.
Maybe the same can happen here. Maybe the fact that the league is spending $775 per hour on an expert to claim that the players should not be paid in an upcoming court case will show the judge that they can do better. But they will be dragged kicking and screaming the entire way.
Through it all, the league and Rob Manfred will look even worse. They are essentially demanding that the players be year round employees of the teams, but that they should only be paid for a few months. That would be laughable in any other industry. But the league and Manfred think that should just be the way it is without complaint.
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There is one thing that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is good at – just when it seems he cannot be hated any more, he finds a way.