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On Monday, the Cubs reassigned Kris Bryant and Addison Russell to the minors while optionining Javier Baez there. Russell has just 13 games at Triple-A and just 63 in the high minors. Baez whiffed on his opportunity as well as every other pitch thrown to him in 2014, so while it’s surprising to see him back in Triple-A, he earned the demotion. As for Bryant, though, he’s only in the minors because the Cubs want to manipulate his service time to keep him for an extra season. He’s not the first player to be treated as such, but he’s the most obviously ready and obviously great prospect to be demoted, so Scott Boras and the MLB Players Association are fighting back.
Boras states that the collective bargaining agreement, as constructed, allows MLB to avoid putting the best possible product on the field. The Players Association pointed out that if Bryant were a “combination of the greatest players to ever play our game”, the Cubs still would have sent him down -- translation: We’re on to you. The MLBPA has threatened “litigation, bargaining or both” in response.
Chances are good nothing will change for Bryant, but his situation and the response to it can help affect change for players. The MLBPA can negotiate to shrink this service time loophole in the next CBA, and while that wouldn’t help Bryant, it would help the next Bryant. It’s possible (though unlikely) that litigation now, in the form of a grievance against the Cubs, speeds up the process, too. We’ll see how new commissioner Rob Manfred handles his first real labor dispute between his owners and the players.
- This is all more the CBA’s fault than the Cubs -- they’re exploiting a loophole that shouldn’t exist but does -- but there is still reason to shame the Cubs for their decision.
- The 2015 Nationals have it all. The 2012 Rangers had it all, too. There is a lesson to be learned from them, and it’s one the Nationals might have already known when they signed Max Scherzer.
- The Giants best prospect is a catcher. The Giants best major-league player is a catcher. So, what’s the plan for the former?
- Players are making more money than ever, but they are also bringing in a smaller percentage of the overall MLB profits.
- The Mets made a couple of minor moves on Monday, and general manager Sandy Alderson explained why they matter for his club.
- The Orioles have a rough time developing their pitchers, but Chris Tillman (eventually) worked out. They should extend him now, while they have the chance.
- The Twins use stats, but no one really knows how they use them or why they use them the way they do, or even if the Twins know what those stats mean.
- The Red Sox made a trade for a catcher, with the expectation being that starter Christian Vazquez will miss all or much of 2015 with an elbow injury. We’ll know for sure when he meets with Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday.
- Hey, did you read our MLB preview yet? If you did, that’s very impressive, because it’s got a whole lot of stuff in it.
- SPRING TRAINING BRAWL 2015
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