Evan Drellich

With Tony Clark gone, how will change at baseball's union impact MLB ahead of looming lockout?

What Tony Clark’s exit means for the MLBPA and an expected lockout www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

What would MLB look like with a salary cap? Explaining the wide-ranging, game-changing effects From free agency to guaranteed contracts to franchise values, a salary cap would completely remake the MLB landscape.

What would MLB look like with a salary cap? Everything you need to know about the wide-ranging, game-changing effects, from free agency to, yes, competitive balance

MLB wants an NHL-style hard cap. $240m ceiling, $160m floor could be target

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

An MLB labor war is coming. Will President Trump try to step in? If President Trump wanted to exert influence over MLB, what avenues could he take?

“There shouldn’t be any sort of source of discord between these two institutions,” Naftali said of baseball and the White House. “They’re both national institutions. One has nuclear weapons, the other one does not.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

MLB teams flee cash-strapped FanDuel Sports Network for MLB broadcast group

What's the deal with baseball games on TV? www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Why MLB stars are being told they can’t play in the World Baseball Classic

Explaining the World Baseball Classic insurance denials fiasco, with @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

MLB owners enraged by Kyle Tucker-Dodgers deal, will push for salary cap ‘no matter what’ It's believed that only the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets might remain in opposition to a salary cap proposal, a source said.

“A 100 percent certainty” that the owners will push for a salary cap in wake of Kyle Tucker deal with the Dodgers, ownership source says.

“These guys are going to go for a cap no matter what it takes."

www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

MLB’s Dodger Economics

New pod: @theathletic.com's @evandrellich.bsky.social on what MLB's offseason tells us about the sport's coming labor battle.

open.spotify.com/episode/02yA...

FanDuel Sports Network makes new offers to MLB teams, hinging on the company being sold If it isn't sold, Main Street has told partner teams it plans to wind down FanDuel Sports Network operations after the NBA and NHL seasons.

FanDuel Sports Network is offering three-year deals to MLB teams to return. The offers depend, however, on FanDuel SN finding a buyer. The latest on the fate of a major sports broadcasting company:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...

MLB trying to ‘force’ players into salary cap, union says, as Manfred walks a tricky line MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's recent comments on a salary cap system prompted a strong response from baseball's union.

“The league and owners say they want to avoid missing games but at the same time they appear to be dead-set on trying to force players into a system that, the last time they proposed it, led to the most missed games ever and a cancelled World Series.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

MLB trying to ‘force’ players into salary cap, union says, as Manfred walks a tricky line

“I’ve never been in a negotiation where, before the first piece of paper went across the table, I, or anyone I represented, was out there saying, ‘This, we absolutely will not talk about.’ I just think it’s a hard way to begin a negotiation.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

Manfred stumps for MLB free-agent signing deadline, a ‘miscalculation’ to union Fans, media and industry officials often raise the deadline discussion when free agency goes slowly, as it has this winter.

“But if their true interest is to blow up the very system on which our streak of uninterrupted seasons has been built — with the game reaching record heights and poised to go even higher, no less — that would be a self-defeating miscalculation of massive proportions”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

Manfred stumps for MLB free-agent signing deadline, a ‘miscalculation’ to union Fans, media and industry officials often raise the deadline discussion when free agency goes slowly, as it has this winter.

Rob Manfred wants a free agency signing deadline in baseball: "a great marketing opportunity for the game"

Brent Rooker: "pretty close to the most anti-player idea you could possibly have"

Tony Clark and agents Joel Wolfe, Scott Boras weigh in:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

Nine MLB teams’ TV money in jeopardy as FanDuel networks continue to struggle The troubled broadcaster is trying to renegotiate its payments to nine MLB teams, and recently missed a payment to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Last winter Rob Manfred had luxury-tax money — up to $15m per team — to give clubs that took haircuts on their TV deals: a “media disruption distribution.” But it was a 1-year deal that MLB did not bring back this winter.

The problems, though? They’re back.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

Hello, I’d like to share some opinions to commemorate the new year! I may do this annually! Cheers!

The Athletics are rising on the field, but will they spend now as they eye 2028?

John Fisher and David Forst on the State of the A’s after Year One in Sacramento. Fisher and Forst are in extension talks, the owner said www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

Before betting probe, MLB caught Emmanuel Clase breaking cell phone rules built for sign-stealing era MLB has worked to police player cell phone use, but the league loosened its cell phone rules in 2025 in response to concerns from players.

Before betting probe, MLB caught Emmanuel Clase breaking cell phone rules built for sign-stealing era. With @zackmeisel.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...

MLB winter meetings still hold value in texting era, but may be canceled for 2026 The winter meetings are MLB's annual showcase event. But labor issues may mean it does not return next winter.

The winter meetings could well wind up canceled next year. But in an era when it’s easy to communicate digitally, MLB and participants still see value in the annual convention www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Players have long had agents. A former MLB GM now reps coaches and execs, an underserved group

A former MLB general manager is now an agent — to coaches and execs, who have fewer options www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

MLB formed a Fan Council. It wasn’t long before the league made its pitch on labor issues “One of the biggest things that came into my mind was like, ‘Why us?’” said one of the fan council members after MLB's presentation.

MLB formed a fan council. It wasn’t long before the league made its pitch on labor issues

www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

Union fires back at Rob Manfred's 'extremely revealing' defense of rogue agent

"Mr. Manfred’s comments suggesting there’s ‘nothing to see here’ both mischaracterize the facts & are extremely revealing of the league’s general approach to labor negotiations. There is nothing 'business as usual’ about ... a ‘mole’ for the commissioner’s office"

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Rob Manfred talks prop betting restrictions: ‘I’m glad we’ve done something about it’ The MLB commissioner discussed the league's latest gambling scandal during a regularly scheduled press conference at the owners' meetings.

Rob Manfred talks prop betting restrictions: "I’m glad we’ve done something about it"

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

MLB is flying high. Why does it seem to be barreling toward a work stoppage? Baseball just came off a dramatic World Series, and its numbers are robust. But its owners are gathering in this week to talk labor issues.

MLB is flying high. Why does it seem to be barreling toward a work stoppage?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

Everyone expects labor issues — but so far, at least, MLB free agency is moving forward

“But I think to try to get too cute with that, you’re probably just asking for trouble.”

GMs and agents on how the potential lockout after next season is affecting the market:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Inside the text messages of the agent who became a ‘mole’ for Rob Manfred and MLB The MLB Players Association says that in 2020 negotiations, agent Jim Murray “acted as a ‘mole’” for Manfred and his top lieutenants.

“F the players,” Murray responded, according to the MLBPA documents. “I’m still so pissed off I can’t see straight.”

“We need them to be kissed (sic) off at their leadership,” Courtney replied.

“Believe me, it is priority for me,” Murray said.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Emmanuel Clase wants to pitch in Venezuela while under investigation, but Guardians say no

The Cleveland Guardians will not grant Emmanuel Clase, who is under MLB investigation, permission to play winter ball in Venezuela, sources say. www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

‘Bad actors’ are stealing, reselling fan tickets swiped from MLB’s Ballpark app, MLB acknowledges The rash of scams started around Labor Day, with fans owning tickets to large-market teams the most popular targets.

‘Bad actors’ are stealing, reselling fan tickets swiped from MLB’s Ballpark app, MLB acknowledges

www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Stu Sternberg is selling the Rays, but he’ll remain a minority owner — for a time Sternberg and his partners will retain a 10 percent stake in the Rays after the sale but will eventually exit the ownership group entirely.

Sources: Stu Sternberg is to remain a minority owner of the Tampa Bay Rays as part of the team's sale — for a time. Sternberg's group will retain about 10% of the team at the outset. Sale expected to go final at end of regular season. With @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

As Savannah Bananas pursue 'a billion fans,' are they real competition for MLB?

The Savannah Bananas’ owner doesn’t like the Globetrotters comparison. He thinks he’s building UFC and MLB is boxing. What does MLB think?

“One’s a league and one’s an exhibition”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

Atlanta Braves, ‘the model’ in MLB, could have added payroll at trade deadline Despite a disappointing season so far on the field, the Braves have seen a significant revenue increase this year.

The Atlanta Braves' revenues are up 12 percent through the first six months of the year. Terry McGuirk said the team could have added payroll at the trade deadline.

“What we have built in Atlanta is the model that every other MLB franchise is chasing"

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

The LA Olympics baseball schedule is out — and it’s not perfect for MLB

The 2028 LA Olympics schedule just came out. Major League Baseball would prefer it look different.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...