The Braves' Financial Statements Are Public and Every Other MLB Team Needs to Follow Suit

After originally agreeing on prorated salaries, MLB owners sent the players an admittedly ridiculous proposal that outlined the financial outlook for the truncated 2020 season. Under such terms, the game's most expensive stars would have to take a pay cut that would equal a slap in the face. As expected, the players' union has already declared its intentions to reject the blueprint.

Most would agree that the owners' frugal approach in negotiations would turn on its head if relevant documents were publicized, right? Well, the Atlanta Braves made their 2019 financial statements available earlier this year, and every club should follow their lead.

To think that the Braves took this step back in February and no other club has followed suit in the three months since is extremely disconcerting. Atlanta's course of action perfectly encapsulates what Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer stated in his lengthy response to the owners' proposal on Twitter on Wednesday night.

The seven-time All-Star literally concluded his rant by saying that he believes that "MLB's economic strategy would completely change if all documentation were to become public information."

We couldn't agree more.

Not only does Scherzer age like fine wine, but he's as smart as a whip. The 35-year-old superstar rightly called the owners out for crying poor, but also for not presenting the math to back their stinginess and absurd pay cut requests.

Considering how much revenue would be lost in a cancelled season -- owners project to forfeit up to $4 billion -- all remaining clubs should have more incentive than ever to be transparent about their bankroll.