There has been a common belief during this MLB lockout that this is simply “Billionaires vs. Millionaires.”
And it’s easy to believe that.
The owners are worth billions upon billions of dollars, and a decent chunk of the players make millions each year, at least the highest paid superstars, that is.
However, there’s more to it than just that, as one MLB analyst points out.
Ben Verlander of FOX Sports points out that the idea of “Billionaires vs. Millionaires” is a common misconception and reminds baseball fans that the real battle is much more complex than many people have been led to believe.
Key Points
Verlander mentions that most players in Major League Baseball actually make less than $1 million, which amounts to 71 percent of the players.
He also points out that 66 percent of players make less than $600,000 and 16 percent make less than $100,000.
What Players Are Really Fighting For
Verlander is 100 percent correct in his approximation of the labor battle.
Much of what the players are fighting for has to do with the pay of younger players, almost all of whom make less than $1 million.
Players want to be paid more, sure, but they’re also fighting for the rights of younger players, who have been taken advantage of and cheated by the system for too long.
The notion this is a war between billionaires and millionaires could not be any further from the truth.
Younger players are the future of the game, and they deserve to make more money than they already do and be treated more fairly by the owners.
When the lockout began, commissioner Rob Manfred framed the players’ request as “radical.”
But you have to look closer.
All the players want is to be treated fairly, and that should not be considered “radical” by any stretch of the imagination.
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