• Cubs Convention
  • Interviews
  • MLB Transaction Glossary | Rules
    • Major League Baseball Transactions Glossary
    • MLB Rule 7.13 – Collisions at Home Plate
    • MLB Slide Rule on Double Plays Adopted for 2016 Season
  • Archives
    • Chicago Cubs Online General Info
    • Community Blog Archives
    • CCO Cubs-Metrics
    • CCO Cubs Podcast
    • CCO Feedback
    • CCO Predictions
    • CCO Opinion – You Know Better
    • The CCO Wrigley Perspective
    • Fantasy Baseball
    • The Northside Media Guide
  • Cubstory

Chicago Cubs Online

A Site for The Cubs Faithful Since 2005

  • Home
  • News | Transactions
    • News and Transactions
    • Cubs Regular Season Notes
    • Cubs Spring Training News Reports
    • Cubs Off-Season News Reports
  • Minor Leagues
    • Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 2008 to Present
    • Minor League Transactions Glossary
    • Cubs Minor League Players and Pitchers of the Year 1990 – 2017
    • Minor League Updates – 2005-2007
  • Rumors
    • If The Ivy Could Talk – Cubs Rumors
  • Game Day
    • Let’s Play 2 – Game Recap
    • Talkin’ Cubs Live
    • Cactus League-Spring Training
  • Opinion
    • The CCO, Live from Wrigleyville
    • Notes from the Soap Box
  • 40-Man Roster | Contracts
Chicago Cubs Online > Cubs Regular Season Notes > MLBPA Reportedly Concerned About Cubs Lack of Spending

MLBPA Reportedly Concerned About Cubs Lack of Spending

May 28, 2014 1:00 am By Neil 11 Comments

According to a report from the Sun-Times, the Major League Players Union “is concerned about how the Cubs’ business practices are affecting player markets.” Gordon Wittenmyer reported “at least one players agent” met with Tom Ricketts this year about the perceived problem “to make the case for investing in the Major League team.” Wittenmyer did not mention the name of the agent in his report, but it is believed to be Scott Boras that met with Ricketts.

It is unknown if the union “can do anything about the high-revenue team’s years-long trend of spending cuts and roster purges” according to the report. And it “might depend  in part on how much longer it lasts if the union can find grounds for action in Major League Baseball’s debt-ratio rules for clubs.”

The Cubs declined to make a comment to Wittenmyer and the MLB Players Association provided a statement to Wittenmyer on the matter.

“Speaking generally, as one would expect, we monitor the spending of all clubs on a regular basis and if we have concerns we raise them with the Commissioner’s Office. We also understand the cynical nature of this industry, but despite the ups and downs franchises face, we strongly believe that the best way to improve one’s bottom line is to invest in Major League talent.”

The Cubs have cut the big league payroll the last four years as Gordon Wittenmyer reported. The Cubs have focused on building the minor league system and improving the technology and staff in which to do so. The team has also added scouts and revamped the player development department.

Commissioner Bud Selig defended the Cubs’ plan last month, vowed to help the Ricketts family get past the hurdles to renovate Wrigley Field and reviewed “the Cubs’ finances and determined they aren’t in violation of MLB’s debt-ratio rules.”

As Craig Calcaterra reported the MLBPA, MLB and the Marlins “entered into an agreement in which the Marlins agreed to spend more money on players, rather than cut things to the bone in order to rebuild.” The Marlins were in violation of Article XXIV(B)(5)(a) of the Basic Agreement because the Marlins were not using revenue sharing money on their big league roster. The Cubs are not in violation of the same article of the basic agreement because they pay into the revenue system, the Cubs do not draw from it.

  • Full Report from the Sun-Times
  • Full Report from Hardball Talk
Follow ChicagoCubsOnline on Twitter: @TheCCO and @TheCCO_Minors

Filed Under: Cubs Regular Season Notes Tagged With: Cubs Payroll, The Ricketts Family, Tom Ricketts

Archives


Memories of Mr. Cub

A Tribute to Mr. Cub

Forever, THE Cub
What is Eamus Catuli
What is Eamus Catuli?
Lakeview Baseball Club

Subscribe to the CCO

Get Cubs Updates in Your Inbox

Tweets by TheCCO

Stats


Trips to the North Side

Copyright © 2021 5 & 11 Online Productions
Privacy Policy | Commenting Policy | About | Contact
ChicagoCubsOnline.com is not affiliated with the Chicago National League Ballclub

7ads6x98y