Since the Chicago Cubs started making the playoffs in 2015 to kick off the current window, they’ve been a lock to do two things: (1) make the NLCS, and (2) be the most generous team in playoff shares. OK, so number one went by the wayside in 2018, but dang if they weren’t still going to be as generous as possible.
For the fourth straight year, the Cubs’ players awarded the most full playoff shares in baseball:
MLB has announced postseason share info. The Red Sox earned $416,837.72 per share, while the Dodgers received $262,027.49 per share. pic.twitter.com/NMEAIhUVyD
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 26, 2018
Cubs award 68 full postseason shares, the most of any 2018 playoff team. Each full share worth $16,155.34. World Series champion Red Sox awarded 66 full shares ($416,837.72 per share), 10.025 partial shares, eight cash awards. Dodgers awarded 67 full shares ($262,027.49 per share
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) November 26, 2018
As you can see, going deep into the playoffs can mean huge bonuses for the organizations involved. That’s certainly not why we as fans were bummed to see such an early exit for the Cubs, but it’s annually interesting to remember that there is skin in the game for the players beyond mere passion – sometimes nearly as much as a full-season salary for a player making the minimum.
These postseason awards are decided by the team’s full-time players, and can go to players who’ve been a part of the team for some of the year, coaches, trainers, and/or other staff on the club. Cubs players could decide to keep more for themselves, but every year, they decide to spread the love.
It wasn’t a ton of money – relatively speaking – to divvy up this year for the Cubs, but think about how much a bonus of sixteen grand could mean to a member of the staff or a coach or a trainer? That’s a seriously nice Christmas bonus.
The Cubs have some generous players, and clearly they’ve fostered a culture that encourages this kind of generosity. I dig it.