MLB clubs report millions of dollars in revenue every year.
They make money through TV deals, revenue sharing, merchandise sales, concession sales, and several other ways.
Yet, a team decides to start a fight with its ace over less than $750,000.
That’s the case of the Milwaukee Brewers and their situation with Corbin Burnes.
“Arbitration exchange update: Corbin Burnes filed at $10.75 million; the Brewers filed at $10.01 million,” MLB insider Mark Feinsand tweeted.
Arbitration exchange update: Corbin Burnes filed at $10.75 million; the Brewers filed at $10.01 million.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 14, 2023
Last weekend marked the end of the deadline to exchange salaries and settle for one-year contracts for arbitration-eligible players.
The vast majority of players settle with their teams, avoiding the uncomfortable experience of having their team listing their flaws and deficiencies to try and lower their value.
But some teams don’t pick the smarter fights.
In the case of the Brewers, souring their relationship with the 2021 Cy Young award winner is not a very good idea.
Burnes broke out in 2020 with a sparkling 2.21 ERA.
He probably deserved the Cy Young that year but lost to Trevor Bauer.
He did end up winning the award a year later with a brilliant 2.43 ERA.
This past season, he wasn’t quite stellar, but was excellent nonetheless with a 2.94 ERA in 202 innings.
We really hope the Brewers don’t point out the fact his ERA has been rising for three seasons in a row.
It sounds ridiculous, but really, what kind of argument do they have over Burnes?
A decision shouldn’t come until after the season has started, but Burnes deserves to win this particular case.
