Six teams leave regional sports network to join MLB

[Red Bird Classic]

I know this news is days old. I know there's a thread discussing possible changes in availability of Cardinals baseball. I read through that tread. But no one seems to have noticed the real and massive significance of this move.

Here's a story on ESPN. Just scroll down half the page: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/476 ... wetherholt

Here's the key point no one seems to have noticed: "(MLB) hopes to possess the local rights for all 30 of its teams by the end of 2028 and sell them as a national package,"

This is massively important because it's a necessary step leading to real revenue sharing in MLB. Without which, the sport can't have a cap or a floor which many here are forever demanding.

This is something the league needs to work out between teams. The players can become involved only when the conditions (real revenue sharing) are right.

If the league can get all 30 teams under one broadcast umbrella, the stage is set for revenue sharing. If (and only if) that happens, players can be approached with a cap/floor deal.

Then we're looking at MLB being more like the NFL where teams compete at drafting and developing the best players and coaches, not spending the most money.

This move could be the frist step in saving baseball from itself.

[Red Bird Classic]

MLB moving to control of local broadcast rights may be the most important event this offseason, and no one has anything to say about it?

People are endlessly complaining that the Dodgers buy titles, they're forever demanding a salary cap. I present news of a possible solution on the horizon, MLB making moves that could lead to a better future, and get nothing but crickets?

[dugoutrex]

it is all just speculation - why on earth would the Yankees give MLB their broadcasting rights ?

[alw80]

MLB moving to control of local broadcast rights may be the most important event this offseason, and no one has anything to say about it?

People are endlessly complaining that the Dodgers buy titles, they're forever demanding a salary cap. I present news of a possible solution on the horizon, MLB making moves that could lead to a better future, and get nothing but crickets?

Are they going to put them back on yttv? Unless that happens it means very little to me.

[45s]

it is all just speculation - why on earth would the Yankees give MLB their broadcasting rights ?

Tossing reality out there ….

doesn’t sell well on this board…

[BrockFloodMaris]

I know this news is days old. I know there's a thread discussing possible changes in availability of Cardinals baseball. I read through that tread. But no one seems to have noticed the real and massive significance of this move.

Here's a story on ESPN. Just scroll down half the page: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/476 ... wetherholt

Here's the key point no one seems to have noticed: "(MLB) hopes to possess the local rights for all 30 of its teams by the end of 2028 and sell them as a national package,"

This is massively important because it's a necessary step leading to real revenue sharing in MLB. Without which, the sport can't have a cap or a floor which many here are forever demanding.

This is something the league needs to work out between teams. The players can become involved only when the conditions (real revenue sharing) are right.

If the league can get all 30 teams under one broadcast umbrella, the stage is set for revenue sharing. If (and only if) that happens, players can be approached with a cap/floor deal.

Then we're looking at MLB being more like the NFL where teams compete at drafting and developing the best players and coaches, not spending the most money.

This move could be the frist step in saving baseball from itself.

13 down, 17 to go. Three more might join the MLB group before the season starts. None of the big dogs are among those 16. How will MLB coax the bigs into the flock? Threaten legal action? An impassioned plea to do what is best for the game? I'll be watching this story. Thanks for the post!

[bfib]

it is all just speculation - why on earth would the Yankees give MLB their broadcasting rights ?

Because the other choice they are going to have is no baseball being played

The NFL, the most successful sports league in the world, is right there giving baseball the obvious blueprint.

[Dicktar2023]

MLB moving to control of local broadcast rights may be the most important event this offseason, and no one has anything to say about it?

People are endlessly complaining that the Dodgers buy titles, they're forever demanding a salary cap. I present news of a possible solution on the horizon, MLB making moves that could lead to a better future, and get nothing but crickets?

You're right. It's a huge development, not just for revenue sharing, but as a potential fix to the biggest problem MLB consumers face: how do I even watch these games?

$100/season ($16.67/month) is a bargain, even if your team is projected to lose 90+ games.

[hmoss859]

For out of market Cardinal fans, nothing changes, maybe just the channel

MLB TV or MLB package thru a satellite or cable provider.

[ICCFIM2]

MLB moving to control of local broadcast rights may be the most important event this offseason, and no one has anything to say about it?

People are endlessly complaining that the Dodgers buy titles, they're forever demanding a salary cap. I present news of a possible solution on the horizon, MLB making moves that could lead to a better future, and get nothing but crickets?

The dynamics of this board are strange...

I focused on the fact that if you were a member of MLB.com, you still had to pay $100 to watch your team if it was in a blackout area. I wondered how MLB got around the remaining blackout restrictions since this loophole could put the remaining RSNs out of business. Did not focus on what you are stating which is a good point. I was wondering whether this loophole work around was a massive lawsuit waiting to happen. Perhaps this point dovetails with your point, i.e. mlb is trying to provoke a lawsuit/settlement to end the blackout issues which is required to achieve the revenue sharing situation. The only way to achieve that was to spark a crisis. The point being this might get really ugly for the sport before the point you are making is achieved.

I think it will also spark another fight among the ML owners in terms of whether it is an equal share or not after they get the RSN issue behind them.

Finally, for years you pined on this board for a true rebuild. We are finally here. Is this the way you would have implemented that rebuild? I am not entirely certain I would have focused on being this pitcher heavy. But, I do think Bloom did a good job of clearing out the books completely leaving maximum flexibility.

[dugoutrex]

it is all just speculation - why on earth would the Yankees give MLB their broadcasting rights ?

Because the other choice they are going to have is no baseball being played

The NFL, the most successful sports league in the world, is right there giving baseball the obvious blueprint.

if that is the only option then there will be no ball in '27