Buster Olney Gives MLB Players' Union Terrible Advice Ahead of 2020 Season Negotiations
Certain MLB analysts have been accused of "carrying water" for owners during the ongoing negotiations with players to start the 2020 season.
ESPN's Buster Olney may be the latest accused of such things after a column he wrote where he suggests the players shouldn't fight too hard in 2020, and would be better served by instead focusing on 2021 and beyond. If only it were that easy.
Sunday notes: The Players Association should think big picture and parlay its position of the moment into a better deal for 2021 and beyond. https://t.co/teJCFcEUWg
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 17, 2020
Such a strategy would get a season agreed upon and get players back on the field, sure. The only problem is that the players are already upset about the owners seemingly going back on a deal for prorated salaries that was agreed upon earlier this year once the shutdown began. How are the players suddenly supposed to trust owners to do the right thing in 2021?
Why would making concessions now have anything to do with the owners' future behavior? Why would they just...do the players a solid?
So Olney's advice to the union is "do what the league wants now and they'll do you favors in the next CBA."
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) May 17, 2020
Yah. OK. Sure, Buster.
Giving up anything to the owners could set a precedent of concessions the players don't want in place. Media members suggesting such a strategy shows the goal, for some, is strictly to get games played.
Fans also want the same thing, but it is hard to expect players to make a deal that is inherently bad for their own interests.