Rob Manfred: “I reject the notion that payroll is a good measure for how much a team is trying or how successful that team is going to be.”
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 17, 2019
On Monday, the players union — in the context of another particularly slow-moving free-agent offseason — fired back with a statement by MLBPA executive director Tony Clark, who wrote, in part:
“Commissioner Manfred’s latest comments and his attempts to shift blame and distract from the main issues are unconstructive and misleading at best. Players’ eyes don’t deceive them, nor do fans’. … We’re operating in an environment in which an increasing number of clubs appear to be making little effort to improve their rosters, compete for a championship or justify the price of a ticket.”
Tony Clark’s rejoinder to Rob Manfred’s press conference yesterday. Worth noting: Manfred will speak again tomorrow in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/bDxP72JRJL
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 18, 2019
MLB has been criticized as multiple top-level free agents remain unsigned into mid-February, including stars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The Red Sox tallied 108 victories and won the World Series with MLB’s highest payroll last season.
That appeared to most rile the players union. However, in his remarks to reporters Sunday, Manfred also said that MLB will use a pitch clock during spring training games.
Rob Manfred says there will be a pitch clock in spring training to prepare for the regular season. In spring training, he said, “You will see pitch clocks in those games.”
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 17, 2019
Even that was met with some skepticism by Clark, though it was veiled in the context of player movement and pay:
“Players have made a sincere attempt to engage with Clubs on their proposals to improve pace of play and enhance the game’s appeal to fans. At the same time, we have presented wide-ranging ideas that value substance over second and ensure the best players are on the field every day.”
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