MLB salaries are 4.8% compared to opening day of 2019.

Players are unhappy with the slide in salaries under the current collective bargaining agreement, even before last year’s pandemic-shortened season, and intend to press for changes during labor talks this year to replace the contract that expires Dec. 1.

ESPN.com

So why did the players sign that agreement? The players made it cheaper for teams to sign amateur players, thinking the money would go to big leaguers. Instead, the owners kept the cost savings. Why didn’t the union see that coming.

I just love that the MLBPA sings collusion whenever anything doesn’t go their way, but is very happy to take money away from people coming up through the system. I hope they bring in people during the coming negotiations who will think like the owners and point out possible flaws in negotiating positions. They obviously didn’t do that in the recent past.

Of course, the pandemic and no fans in the stands could have a lot to do with the salary fall. From that perspective, 5% doesn’t seem so bad.