World Champion Nationals Look Very Cheap After Latest Strange Financial Maneuver

In sports, winning can cover for a lot of issues within an organization. If and when a team wins a championship, increased revenue comes with the territory. As a result, everyone is happy! Players having success on the field translates to CEOs and owners having their brands become more profitable, trickling the cash down to those who -- I'm sorry, what now?

This is where the curious case of the Washington Nationals comes into play. After a magical 2019 season that was capped with a World Series victory over the sign-stealing Astros, Washington’s bottom line has never looked better. While MLB is currently on hold trying to figure out its pay proposal dispute with its players, Washington is now amongst the handful of teams that have decided to cut costs, further slicing from their minor-leaguers in the process.

Pocket change to ownership, impactful to those who really need it. What gives?

The competitive Nats have already cut $25 million off of their payroll from last season, and now they are cutting another $100 off minor league players’ checks, a truly unnecessary maneuver for those in need. At the behest of an owner that is struggling, this move would make theoretical sense.

This move, though, is a bit more of a head-scratcher once you figure out a bit more about team owner Ted Lerner.

So, the man with the second highest net worth in baseball cannot afford to sacrifice some of his bottom line for those that are in need? Players like David Price of the Dodgers are going out of pocket to pay minor leaguers in LA’s organization, but an owner who makes what Price makes multiple times over for some reason is not able to do so.

Something is not adding up. For a championship team combined with a rich owner, Lerner is making some questionable financial decisions that are affecting others’ pockets a lot more than his own.