MLB Teams Can Now Cut Pensions for Non-Uniformed Employees and Other Bullets

cat says goodbyeHappy Valentine’s Day, friends. Smooches.

Although I touched on some of the highlights from the introductory Spring press conference yesterday, I’ll have much more today on some of the interesting bits in their own post(s). For now, the other Bullets …

  • Here are some horrible optics for MLB: at the owner’s meetings last month, the owners voted to allow teams the ability to cut pensions for non-uniformed personnel, per a report from Adam Rubin. Although MLB protests and explains that the decision is really about giving teams the choice to provide different kinds of retirement benefits to their employees (401(k) plans, for example), and even though companies across America have been reducing or removing traditional pension plans for years now, this just looks bad. You’ve got a sport that is awash in revenue growth, predicated on the goodwill of the public – MLB is a business only because fans enjoy experiencing the product, and fan positivity about the product is a huge component – and operated by owners that are already perceived by many to be uber rich folks who care only about become even more uber rich. This reeks of penny pinching the line workers to line the pockets of already-wealthy owners. Is that a fair characterization? Well, you know how I fall on these things – there’s always an explanation and another side of the story. But, as I say, whatever the reality, this just looks very, very bad. That’s probably a part of the reason it wasn’t reported for almost a month – MLB wasn’t exactly sending out a press release on this one.
  • That all said, MLB merely gave teams the option of cutting pensions. Pro tip for teams that can afford it: keep the pensions for a while, at least. You will look like the better team for it, and that could have advantages when it comes to recruiting business/scouting talent.
  • If you analyzed the pitching prospects in the MLB top 100 by FIP in 2013, who would land on top? That would be Cubs pitching prospect C.J. Edwards by a healthy margin, thanks to his hilariously low 1.96 FIP. Pierce Johnson winds up in the top half, with his 3.15 (sandwiched between elite pitching prospects Robert Stephenson and Archie Bradley). While it’s, of course, swell to see, keep in mind: stats in the minors, even advanced ones, are only a part of the story. Everyone knows C.J. Edwards’ numbers last year were stupid good (like, Javier Baez good). The question comes from the scouting side of things: will his polished stuff play up quite as well when he’s facing more advanced bats? Will he be durable enough to stay in the rotation long-term?
  • Darwin Barney tells Cubs.com he got a little big last year (not necessarily fat, because he always looked strong), and he cut back this past offseason to try and be a little more agile. At the plate, maybe he ends up with a little less power, but an overall improved approach as a result?
  • Jason McLeod was on Sports Talk Live with Dave Kaplan, hitting on a handful of the usual talking points. He got into the draft a little bit, and noted the quality college pitching talent available right now, but cautioned that, at this time last year, everyone thought Sean Manaea was going in the top three and folks didn’t expect Kris Bryant to be up at the top.
  • A certain commenter will enjoy something Rick Renteria said at yesterday’s press conference (as logged by Cubs.com): “The reality is, nobody in that [clubhouse] will misconstrue my calmness and my patience for not having fire. I have plenty of fire in my belly. The only ones who need to understand it are those guys in there. I’m hoping that, because they do, what you guys see will be something pretty exciting.”
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

    Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

    The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 10, Cubs 9 – May 11, 2024

    The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (3:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...

    Oh, Good, Yency Almonte is Now Also Hurt

    Today the Chicago Cubs placed reliever Yency Almonte on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. Jose Cuas has been recalled from Iowa to take his place in the bullpen. Almonte, together with Mark Leiter Jr., had been performing...

    Credit to Assad, Huge Ups to Brown, Hopes for Taillon, Happ’s Bat and Glove, Bellinger History, and Other Cubs Bullets

    How did I not know that the Aurora Borealis was going to be visible last night?!?!? I woke up this morning to all these awesome pictures from friends and other people in the area, and I'm MISERABLE ABOUT IT. With...

    Latest News

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Nikola Jokic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    At 8:00 PM ET on Sunday, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Nikola Jokic needing two trifectas to beat his 3-pointer over/under.Nikola Jokic's Three-Pointer Prop...

    Michael Porter Jr. Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    At 8:00 PM ET on Sunday, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Denver Nuggets versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Michael Porter Jr. needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer over/under.Michael Porter Jr.'s...

    Anthony Edwards Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    At 8:00 PM ET on Sunday, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets, with Anthony Edwards needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer over/under.Anthony Edwards' Three-Pointer Prop...

    Jamal Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Timberwolves – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    Jamal Murray needs to make two 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Denver Nuggets face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 8:00 PM ET, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs.Jamal Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

    Karl-Anthony Towns Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Nuggets – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Sunday, May 12, 2024

    At 8:00 PM ET on Sunday, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets, with Karl-Anthony Towns needing two treys to beat his 3-pointer prop.Karl-Anthony Towns' Three-Pointer Prop...

    Top Player Prop Bets for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Western Conference Semifinals Game 4 on May 12, 2024

    Player prop betting options for Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic and others are available in the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets matchup at Target Center on Sunday (starting at 8:00 PM ET).How to Watch Timberwolves vs. NuggetsDate: Sunday, May 12, 2024Time: 8:00 PM...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Rome Odunze Missed Saturday’s Bears Rookie Minicamp Practice

    I was rounding up this morning's set of Bears Bullets when I saw this note from the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer on rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze sitting out Saturday's practice with hamstring tightness and I knew I had to...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    more cubs news