Beat The Shift Baseball Podcast · Alex Uy, Alex Roude, Farbod Markazi, Ray Estrada

Beat the Shift Baseball Podcast - Sucks to be a Free Agent! (Episode 86)

·53 min·4 clips

MLB teams lost $3.1 billion, but will they really cry poor and slash free agency spending this offseason?

This episode of Beat the Shift Baseball Podcast focuses on the challenges and uncertainties surrounding MLB free agency in the 2020-21 offseason. Host Alex Uy is joined by co-hosts Alex Rudy, Farbode Markazi, and Ray Estrada to analyze the landscape. They examine how the COVID-19 pandemic and upcoming CBA negotiations are creating a difficult market for players. The hosts reference a report stating MLB teams collectively lost $3.1 billion in the 2020 season. They predict many teams will significantly reduce spending due to uncertain stadium revenue for 2021. Rudy argues this could lead to more players accepting qualifying offers and a rise in one-year contracts. The panel discusses how a short 60-game season makes evaluating players like Marcus Semien, who had a strong 2019 but a down 2020, particularly difficult for teams. They speculate top free agents like Trevor Bauer might still command high salaries, potentially from unexpected teams, while mid-tier players will struggle. A significant portion discusses the collective bargaining agreement expiring after the 2021 season. The hosts express concern that contentious negotiations could lead to a player strike. Rudy is pessimistic about the players' union leverage, citing the league's financial losses and the owners' aggressive stance during 2020 talks. Estrada notes a key player goal is to reach free agency earlier, before age 30, to increase earning potential. The conversation highlights the fear of free agents facing a market freeze if a new CBA isn't settled. Trevor Bauer's free agency is cited as a unique case where his status as the top available pitcher might insulate him from the depressed market. The hosts debate if Bauer could pursue a short-term, high-annual-value deal with opt-outs, similar to some NBA stars. They rule out certain teams like the New York Yankees as potential fits due to Bauer's personality. The possibility of the Mets, Dodgers, or Angels making aggressive offers is mentioned. The tone is conversational and analytical, featuring a debate among informed hosts with differing levels of optimism. The style is informal, with hosts frequently interrupting and building on each other's points. Baseball fans interested in the business side of the sport, labor relations, and offseason strategy would enjoy this episode. Listeners seeking only on-field game analysis or a lighthearted discussion might find the detailed financial and CBA talk less engaging.

As heard by us

A loose, uneasy labor conversation that makes baseball's offseason feel consequential.

The episode treats MLB labor talk as something close to everyday life. The sharpest stretch comes when the hosts move from the Jeff Luno lawsuit to CBA uncertainty and the awkward position of free agents, where an offseason can start to look like a career test.

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Why you'd press play

You want a conversational take on baseball's labor setup and what an uncertain next offseason could mean for free agents, without getting lost in the jargon.

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