Guest: Evan Marshall, Chicago White Sox Relief Pitcher
Over the weekend, the MLBPA decided that talks with the commissioner's office were "futile" and now wait for Rob Manfred to determine when the 2020 season begins and for how long. After attempts to work out a deal with the owners, MLBPA has decided that their best course of action is to stop playing along.
To provide insight and perspective on why the MLBPA would conduct themselves in this manner is Evan Marshall, relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. Marshall shares how the process has gone within the players association, what the owners refuse to share, and why the players are taking a firm stand.
About Jerry Reinsdorf and the MLB owners:
"Personally, with the White Sox, we see Jerry Reinsdorf. He's not just some myth in the club suites that we never hear about. We see him, I talk to him, and he's a great guy. We respect the hell out of him. But the owners come together collectively as a group and then let the commissioner [Rob Manfred] to state their position on things.
It's been nothing short of foolish from the beginning. The owner's first offer made to us was an $800 million pay cut off the prorated amount we already agreed to. They offered us the same deal four different ways where they shifted it from 50% prorate for 80 games down to 80% prorate and 60 games. It has been a sliding scale, but in the end, the total dollars are always the same."
About how he may lose money with a 56-game season:
"In my position, I'm going to take a loss to go play over those two months. Not a net loss because the owners already fronted us some money. Which was great because I already have it, and I'm prepared to earn it. But my paychecks for these two months won't cover agency fees, rent, food, etc. I will eventually be paying for things out of my pocket rather than my paycheck covering it all."
In the second part of the show [34:11], Josh and Jim recap the 2020 MLB Draft and answer your questions in P.O. Sox.
Click play below to listen:
