Report: Dispute Brewing Between MLBPA And Marilns
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Marlins took a blowtorch to the franchise in the offseason, trading talent, slashing payroll, turning the team into the worst team in baseball. The moves may run afoul of the Major League Baseball Players Association for the second time in as many years.
According to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, the 2013 payroll for the Miami Marlins is expected to be around $32.5 million, or $45 counting money they owe other teams from the massive salary dump involved with the offseason trades.
The Herald reported that the MLBPA said if Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria doesn't increase payroll soon, they will go to Commissioner Bud Selig with a complaint. The same thing happened prior to the 2010 season when the Marlins were not spending money on the team.
Once Deadspin.com released the Marlins' financial records, everyone saw the team was pocketing millions of dollars each year from the team that came from revenue sharing, among other sources. After getting slapped by the league and the MLBPA, the team increased the payroll by roughly $10 million.
This year, the Marlins don't believe baseball will take any action. According to the Herald, the Marlins said they lost $40 million last year and won't make much this season as the team expects attendance and ballpark revenue to bottom out.
According to the Herald the Marlins also expect roughly $10-$15 million less in revenue sharing after receiving upwards of $33 million per season from 2002-2010.
Still, if Loria has proven anything as owner of the Marlins; he's unmoved by calls from fans or anyone else to do anything with the team. But, the Herald said, another conflict between the union and the Marlins is "inevitable."
The Marlins have only one true star left on the team and that's right fielder Giancarlo Stanton. However, the Marlins have in recent weeks listened to trade offers for Stanton, though deny they have any interest in trading him.
For comparison purposes, according to baseball-reference.com, the Marlins estimated payroll is just a little more than half of the second lowest spending team in the National League East, the Atlanta Braves.
The Marlins' payroll is also the lowest in the National League by roughly $14 million in the 2013 season.
Last season, the Marlins won 69 games and finished in last place. The Marlins may struggle to get to 69 wins this season and are likely headed for another last place finish in 2013.
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