There has been so much chatter the last two offseasons about how MLB Free Agency has evolved and some even suggest a work stoppage could occur if this trend continues–the notion that big-time free agents are getting fewer and fewer market value deals while free agency lasts until spring training. That time frame is not only for “marginal free agents” but also for the superstars in the sport.
This is a huge problem with players, teams, agents, and baseball senior management paying close attention to the second straight off-season the market for free agents has become so disjointed. Analytics has a little to do with it, but the real reason is ownership wants all of their personnel moves to fit into their budgets which is totally understandable. However, all budgets should be built with wiggle room to adapt to the changing marketplace which I think few teams actually do.
The other issue is when agents promise players the world giving their clients unrealistic expectations which complicates the process. They need to be upfront with their players eligible for free agency (even the top names in the game) that this process is very complicated and there are times to be patient but also time to pounce on the right offers as soon as they become available. I also think arbitration has set a higher premium on star players setting a market which becomes the expectation for players of similar age and ability in the free agent marketplace.
I do think a salary cap is long overdue in baseball but simply will NEVER help if a salary floor does not exist. In the current setting I would set a salary cap of $210 million with a salary floor of $100 million. Anyone over $210 million would still pay luxury tax but teams below the floor would pay a tax as well. All monies would be distributed in following manner: 50% would go to paying minor league players better and providing health assistance for retired players while the other 50% would go into a pool that all teams that are between the floor and cap would equally share.
You’re paying teams for having monetary responsibility while providing a bigger war chest for players to use as this will lift the money all teams possess. I would add the regulation that any team that becomes a multiple year offender would also forfeit draft picks which would be given to the teams who adhere to this policy in a draft lottery drawing.
I would also stipulate that the minimum salaries in both the minors and majors increase by 8% per year for the next 5 years helping players to keep chasing the dream of playing big league baseball. In addition, should you sign a free agent from within your own division you need to forfeit more draft picks than any other free agent pickup. The trading deadline is another issue that needs to be changed–make the official deadline August 31 giving teams on the fringes of the playoff race more time to decide whether they were buyers or sellers.
I also think it is absolutely the right time for divisional realignment and I would try the following:
Condense the sport into four Overall Divisions: (East, South, Central, West) with the following set up:
East: Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Phils, Nats, Orioles, Montreal Expansion Team, Blue Jays
South: Marlins, Rays, Braves, Astros, Rangers, Brewers, Royals, D’backs
Central: Cards, Cubs, White Sox, Tigers, Indians, Reds, Twins, Pirates
West: Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Rockies, Mariners, A’s, Angels, Las Vegas Expansion
Four division winners get playoff spots plus four Wild Cards –Wild Cards Play each other to comprise two teams that would complete the Final eight. We cut season to 154 games to get the extra playoff games in and we make all rosters expand come Sept 1–to a possible 40–but you must name 25 players on your active roster every night that are the only players available to use for that game. The 154 game schedule will consist of 12 games vs each team in your division for a total of 84 games and one series vs every non-divisional team for a total of 70 games.
There are a few little things that must be decided–like the DH (which I was against for years but would be willing to entertain here) and generate more off days by scheduling all teams to play doubleheaders on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day as well four other Sundays of their choice. This would enhance existing rivalries that Yanks-Mets and Cubs- White Sox while hopefully creating some new ones as well. It will also generate more income for players as well as enhancing gate returns for the teams.
In my humble opinion, the sport needs these changes to keep the title of National Pastime. I know this is a not a perfect solution and likely needs tweaking, but I firmly believe is a great starting point for meaningful discussions.
