The Brewers, led by owner Mark Attanasio, clamp down on spending and keep winning. But for how long?
PHOENIX – Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio keeps getting away with it. His front office is that shrewd, his managers that skilled, his players that devoted to succeeding as underdogs.
Yet, as Attanasio continues to clamp down on spending, his team's margin for error keeps shrinking. And if this is the season his frugality finally costs the Brewers, he will deserve some, if not most, of the blame.
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Attanasio's approach is not unreasonable, given his team's success. The Brewers' regular-season record in his 20 seasons as owner is the fourth best in the National League. The team has reached the playoffs in six of the last seven years. But since appearing in the 2018 NLCS, the Brewers have been eliminated five times without advancing. Such disappointment seemingly should be the impetus for a stronger push.
Yet, during an offseason in which the Brewers lost shortstop Willy Adames to free agency and traded two-time NL reliever of the year Devin Williams, the most they spent on a free agent was $1 million. Left-hander Tyler Alexander commanded that sum, which is only $240,000 over the major-league minimum. Two other free agents, lefty reliever Grant Wolfram and righty Elvin Rodríguez signed for even less, and their deals are not fully guaranteed.
Attanasio can be judged only so harshly. To his credit, he chooses to keep the Brewers competitive rather than rebuild. He also splurges on occasion — $215 million over nine years for outfielder Christian Yelich, $82 million over eight years for outfielder Jackson Chourio. The Brewers are not to be confused with low-revenue dregs such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins. They're more like the Tampa Bay Rays, repeatedly astonishing the industry with their ability to field contenders on limited funds.
That's the big picture.
Strictly looking at 2025, the Brewers' plan is curious at best. Attanasio, in a news conference Tuesday, said the team's payroll is approximately $5 million higher than it was at the start of last season. But at one point, according to multiple sources who were granted anonymity for their candor, he asked his front office to contemplate cost-cutting trades of right-hander Aaron Civale, who is earning $8 million, and reliever Joel Payamps, who is at $2.995 million.
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The Brewers ultimately decided against such moves, but clearly Attanasio's intent is to build a playoff team as cheaply as possible. That, of course, is his prerogative, but as general manager Matt Arnold acknowledged, 'it puts a lot of pressure on our group to operate very efficiently.' The front office relishes the challenge, Arnold said. Here's guessing the front office also would relish the money to better address third base and add to the starting rotation and bullpen.
The Brewers hosted all three of their playoff games against the New York Mets last season. Teams that reach the postseason generate additional revenue. Often they reinvest that money back into the club. Attanasio, however, said the Brewers' early elimination was more or less a financial wash. 'You really didn't make any money in the wild-card round,' he said. 'You make one or two million dollars, that's it, by the time you cover expenses.'
Might it be that the Brewers believe there is less incentive to aim for a No. 3 seed or higher as a division champion when they can spend less, sneak in as a No. 6 seed and get hot like the Mets? 'You can argue there could be, but we have never had that discussion, ever,' Attanasio said. 'You've got to shoot to win the division.'
Opening Day is still more than a month away. The Brewers still could add a free-agent starter such as left-hander José Quintana. But if you're Attanasio, and you watched your team win the NL Central by 10 games last season after losing manager Craig Counsell, trading staff ace Corbin Burnes and dealing with the prolonged absences of Yelich, Williams and right-hander Brandon Woodruff, you might be thinking, why bother?
One reason: To honor the support of fans, who since 2007 have given the Brewers the ninth-highest average home attendance in the majors, according to STATS Perform.
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Another: To reciprocate the faith of Wisconsin lawmakers, who, in Nov. 2023, approved about $500 million in public funding for renovations and maintenance of the team's home park in Milwaukee, American Family Field. As part of the deal, the team agreed to contribute $150 million and extend its lease through 2050.
The Brewers play in the game's smallest TV market. Like a number of clubs, their long-term local television outlook is uncertain. But they also are a recipient in Major League Baseball's revenue-sharing program, and let's not forget the escalating value of their franchise, which has risen from $223 million when Attanasio bought the club in 2005 to $1.605 billion in March 2024, according to Forbes.
Attanasio's rationale for the team's relative inactivity this offseason is the 'unprecedented amount' of young talent the Brewers are producing. The trade of Williams to the New York Yankees was a trademark Brewers move, enabling the team to land not only left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr., an All-Star in 2022, but also infielder Caleb Durbin, the Breakout Prospect of the Year in the Arizona Fall League. Attanasio also noted that after the Brewers parted with Williams' predecessor, Josh Hader, they ended up flipping one of the players they acquired, outfielder Esteury Ruiz, in a three-team deal that landed them catcher William Contreras, who has since made two All-Star teams.
Williams and Adames, though, were not the Brewers' only departures this offseason. The team declined a $5.5 million player option on right-hander Colin Rea, who contributed 167 2/3 innings last season and later signed with Cubs for $5 million. They also declined to bring back lefty Wade Miley, who wanted to stay while completing his recovery from elbow surgery and agreed to a minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.
First base coach Quintin Berry, who oversaw the Brewers' vaunted running game, left to join Counsell's staff with the Cubs. Walker McKinven, the Brewers' highly regarded catching instructor, became the Chicago White Sox's bench coach.
'Those are big losses, there's no way around that,' Yelich said after listing each member of the group. 'That's part of what comes with playing here. You just know that's how it's going to be. We face different challenges every year, it seems like. We've (succeeded) time and time again. We've got to figure out how to do it one more time.'
The Brewers being the Brewers, it's difficult to bet against them, especially in the game's weakest division, the NL Central. The sport's leading projection systems favor the Cubs, but the Brewers face an uphill battle seemingly every year. They're everyone's favorite underdogs, even as they keep losing parts of their fabric. Even as their owner raises the degree of difficulty to new extremes.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Baseball Legend Tony La Russa partners with The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes to Celebrate St. Louis Cardinals' Historic Championships
July 16 celebration in St. Louis honors iconic baseball players and veterans Wednesday, July 16, 2025 @ 6:45 PM Stifel Theatre 1400 Market Street St. Louis, MO 314-499-7600 TYSONS, Va., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is honored to partner with baseball icon Tony La Russa, for an unprecedented celebration of the St. Louis Cardinals' 2006 and 2011 World Series championships. La Russa also led the Cardinals to three National League pennants during his tenure with the team. The presentation will feature highlight videos from 2000 to 2011, with former players describing key game moments and up close and personal behind the scenes experiences. It is certain to be filled with magical moments! October appearances in the '60s and '80s will also be recognized. Players committed to attending include Rick Ankiel, Will Clark, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds, David Freese, Al Hrabosky, Jason Isringhausen, Mike Matheny, Matt Morris, Reggie Sanders and Woody Williams. Sports broadcaster Joe Buck will also be in attendance and other players will be announced. The evening will also include special tributes to: Darryl Kile, who tied for first for the best teammate ever, and the legendary Jack Buck. Losing them in 2002 inspired the team into October. Walt Jocketty, the architect of the culture and talent that began the winning era. Tom Satterly, a multi decorated Delta Force Sgt. Major who for 20 plus years fought for our country, and now with his wife Jen, cares for returning warriors and their families. The audience will have fun with comedian Tom Cotter, runner-up in America's Got Talent Year 7. Ironically, he lost to Olathe Dogs. The program supports the missions of these nonprofit organizations: La Russa Rescue Champions and its Partnership with The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes empowering veterans as they transition from service to success in their civilian lives, including connecting them to life-changing service dogs. All Secure Foundation healing special operators and families from traumas of war. Cardinals Care improving the lives of kids. Center for Animal Rescue & Enrichment; Five Acres Animal Shelter; Home 2 Home Canine Orphanage; Open Door Animal Sanctuary; and St Louis Pet Rescue – local no kill rescue groups. The goal is to present a historic night to remember for our fans and members of the Cardinals while also contributing to special causes. Tickets are available at four levels and priced so that as many interested fans as possible can attend. Fortunately, the Stifel Theatre has great seats throughout the building. Level I - Central Div. Champs - $40 Level II - Div, Series Champs - $65 Level III - League Champs Series - $150 includes a post-event Q&A with TLR Level IV- World Series Champs - $250 includes a pre event Q&A with TLR and a post-event reception with the players and Tom and Jen Satterly. All the show participants and volunteer supporters are donating their efforts. To help defray expenses several sponsorships have been created. Each sponsorship provides an appropriate number of Level IV World Series Champs tickets! The event sponsor is ApexNetwork Physical Therapy. There are currently several sponsorships available at the $5,000 level including show's first half, show's second half, military segment and veterans and first responder guests. Additionally, a post-event reception sponsorship is available for $4,000 and two pre and post-show Q&As at $2,500 each. There is also a unique travel sponsorship that covers the total air fares for participants at $1,000 per responder travel team members will each receive two Level IV World Series Champs tickets. "We hope you, family and friends will join us and bring your legendary enthusiastic support!" said LaRussa. Tickets are available through Also, directly at the Stifel Theatre Box Office. Open at 12:00 on days the theatre hosts an event! For further information, leave a message at 925-395-1505. About PenFed Foundation for Military HeroesFounded in 2001, The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success in the civilian world. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has provided more than $55 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members and military families. PenFed Credit Union covers most of the salaries and administrative costs of The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes, so more of your donation goes right to our programs. To learn more, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE PenFed Foundation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Robo-umps might be coming to MLB. Are players for or against them?
The robo-umps are coming, and the players have concerns. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced last week that the automated ball-strike system (ABS) could be implemented in Major League Baseball as early as next season. Manfred is planning a proposal to employ the challenge system previously used in the minor leagues and in spring training. Advertisement Major League players are conflicted — at best — about the potential change. 'Taking away the human element would ruin baseball,' one pitcher said. The Athletic's anonymous MLB player poll, conducted this spring, found that 63.4 percent of players were against robo-umps calling balls and strikes. Only 17.1 percent were in favor, while 19.4 percent were unsure. 'I hate it,' one player said. 'Absolutely not,' said another. 'It has proven ineffective in Triple A and everywhere they tested it,' one National League pitcher explained. 'Why would you remove the human element? The game will fundamentally change in a way that fans are definitely not going to like. It will make injuries and the competitive nature of the game worse. There would be fewer balls in play and the games take longer. All proven.' The pitcher then laughed. 'I haven't thought about that at all, huh?' he said. To be clear, it's highly unlikely that robo-umps are actually coming — at least not in the way some players fear. What appears to be on its way is an ABS challenge system — as opposed to ABS calling every pitch — and that seemed a worthwhile middle ground to many players. Some who said they were against ABS in general said they were open to it as part of a challenge system. 'I think there's a fine line,' an NL position player said. 'I think the biggest thing is just trying to get those big calls. … I don't think you get to the (point) where you take the human element out of it, but if we can improve the big missed calls, I think everybody will be pleased with that.' Improved accuracy, of course, was the resounding argument of those players in favor of ABS, and many saw it as a way to help human umpires improve as well. An automated zone would evaluate umpires in real time and offer instant feedback, giving them a chance to adjust their sights if they miss a call. Advertisement 'It feels like the behind-the-plate umpire has more incentive to make the right call or at least give the right effort,' said an NL hitter in favor of ABS. 'That feels like a good thing.' The expected compromise was likely fueled by the deep antipathy players have for removing the human element from the game entirely. The player-umpire dynamic remains fundamental to the baseball experience — one that players believe provides an edge of sorts, or at least an ability to explore the edges. In the majors, many players argue, the ability to work with an umpire — to understand his quirks and adapt to his flaws — is an important part of playing the game. Umpires have a feel for the moment, pitchers have a feel for the umpire, and hitters have to feel some sense of uncertainty when deciding whether to swing. Mistakes might be a feature, not a bug. 'I like when you're throwing a good game and dotting it up, you might get another half inch,' one NL pitcher said. 'I like having that camaraderie, that respect between players and umpires. When that guy's having a good game and we're on the same page and everything's clicking, that's f—ing baseball. We don't need a freaking robot.' And while the ABS system would most directly affect umpires, players expressed concern about its impact on the other person behind the plate. 'I think catchers' values are going to decrease,' one player said. 'Framing is an art. There are guys who have risen up the ranks because they know how to frame well.' Framing — the ability to receive a pitch so that it appears to be a strike — has become a revered and measurable talent, understood as a defining skill that separates elite catchers from lesser receivers. An automated zone would eliminate its value. 'All that work I did the last 15 years, out the door,' one catcher said. Advertisement As another catcher put it: 'That's our food, stealing strikes.' But it's not only catchers who are concerned. 'It takes away every bit of what the catcher is trying to do,' one pitcher said. '(Their) job is to be able to receive and frame balls, and the umpires adjust to that and the hitter in the box. That's kind of the cat-and-mouse game.' Then there's a mistrust of the technology itself. Players used to uncertainty on the edges have found a defined, computer-generated strike zone to be jarring. 'It feels like you're throwing to a different zone,' one pitcher said. 'Rehabbing last year in Triple A and I had (the ABS system),' one outfielder said. 'It was mind-blowing how small the zone is. I remember taking pitches low and away, and I figured I was down 0-1, and they called it a ball.' Hitters become far less aggressive when they know a pitch just off the plate will be called a ball, which is why many opponents argue that ABS will slow down the game — something baseball has worked on in recent years to avoid. But some players are also worried that computers, too, can make mistakes. 'In Triple A last year, there were times you'd feel like you threw a ball right down the middle and it's a ball,' one pitcher said. 'And it's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, something's off there.' How do you argue with a robot? 'I used it years ago when I was in the Fall League,' said one hitter. 'Guys would bounce curveballs that somehow nicked the zone. It hit the plate, but it's a strike somehow?' One pitcher had a similar experience: 'I pitched with it in a rehab game,' he said, 'and it takes the top of the zone completely away. I'd throw one belt-high and it comes up on the scoreboard as two balls above. It just doesn't feel like part of the game.' Ultimately, the umpires are a part of the fabric of the game, just like the players themselves; most players and managers have considerable respect — admiration, even — for the work of umpires. Advertisement 'Good umpires are good umpires,' one player said. 'Most of the umpires are doing a very good job every single game,' said another. 'Those guys' jobs are incredibly hard, and 95, 96 percent of the time they're doing what they're asked to do.' 'If the umpires leave the game,' an AL starting pitcher said, 'I don't want to be a part of it.' Technology has been a growing force in baseball for several decades, but the game's best players still appreciate and long for the human element of the sport. 'I just like old-fashioned baseball,' one pitcher said. 'Call it if it looks good.' Work is work. It can be rewarding and even enjoyable, but it can also be maddening and tiring, whether you're a writer, a teacher, a doctor, a landscaper, a tax collector, a shoe designer or a traffic cone inventor. And it can be that way for baseball players, too. The Athletic asked more than 130 big leaguers: What is one change you would make to improve baseball on or off the field? The players had ideas. Boy, did they ever. 'More hockey fights!' one major leaguer suggested. 'How 'bout that? Let's fight each other!' Now we're talking. Here are just a few of the highlights breaking down those players' thoughts. Most responses fell broadly into a few defined categories. One of the most popular dealt with the 162-game schedule. 'I really enjoyed the seven-inning doubleheaders (during the 2020 Covid season),' one player said. 'And I would change it so we'd have less games, more off-days.' He paused. 'And same pay,' he added, laughing. 'I think if you could keep the 162-game season but have every Monday off like the minors,' another player suggested. 'Start the season a little earlier but have the consistency of a day off every week. I think you'd see a lot fewer soft-tissue injuries.' Advertisement How to start the season earlier? One player suggested eliminating spring training — though, to be fair, a lot of players seem to like that idea if asked in late March — but many of those who focused on scheduling concerns seemed most interested in getting consistent breaks. 'We have talked about it as players all the time,' one said. 'Some of the older guys who haven't been in the minor leagues (since they introduced the Monday off day) don't realize how nice it is. It's not us saying, 'Oh, we want to play less.' It's like, you have that Monday off day to either feel better or get collected. Maybe it would clean up some injuries, too.' One player suggested fewer games would keep fans interested — 'I just feel like the schedule is exhausting for people,' he said — while another suggested adjusting the schedule to play in the warmer southern cities early, saving the cooler northern cities for the summer, would keep players and fans happy. But not everyone is on board with cutting back on the number of days. 'My wife wouldn't like this,' said one player, presumably double-checking that this survey would remain anonymous, 'but I would make the season longer.' 'Hot take,' said one player. 'I think the shift was a competitive advantage for smarter teams and players. Don't penalize the teams that do it better. Bring it back!' Rule changes were the most popular theme among players. There were suggestions ranging from eliminating catcher's interference — 'Some guys could be purposely making their swings longer to get it!' — to moving the pitcher's mound closer to home plate (you know, because 100-mph fastballs don't get there quickly enough). One of the more hitter-friendly suggestions was to bring back the 2019 baseballs — before they were allegedly juiced — while one of the less catcher-friendly suggestions was to bring back collisions. Advertisement 'I like the old sliding into bases, knock the catcher out,' one player said. 'That's why people cared so much about hockey. We're entertainment.' There was no shortage of suggested rule changes involving pitchers. One player talked about ending pickoff limitations, another suggested doing away with the three-batter minimum, and multiple pitchers said they should be able to step off the rubber with no one on base to call a timeout. You likely already read the player responses to the automated strike zone above — spoiler alert: they're generally against it — and at least 10 players mentioned tweaks to the pitch clock, either eliminating it or lengthening it. 'It's taken the thinking out of pitching,' one said. When it comes to rule eliminations, one player was a 'yes' across the board: 'Remove all the rules they've added,' he said. 'We should play old-school baseball.' Of course, it is possible to both defend the old school and embrace some new ideas. 'I like the idea of making first base wider, deeper, so you don't have those collisions at first on those bang-bang plays,' one player said. 'Other than that, it's America's pastime for a reason. They knew what they were doing when they were making it. It's perfect the way it is.' While most players focused their suggestions on the field, others looked at baseball's place in television, traditional journalism, and social media. 'Off the field? I'd say more marketing,' one player suggested. 'Doing what the NBA did the last five years of really marketing players and better utilizing social media. I know we're trying, but my wife, who doesn't follow any sports, always sees basketball stuff come up. She's on social media all the time, and she says she feels like she sees NBA stuff all the time, but never MLB.' Advertisement That was a relatively popular critique. 'Better marketing of younger players and for younger fans,' one player said. 'Make clips, highlights and viewing of live games much easier,' said another. 'Promoting a wider array of players more often,' added yet another. 'Rather than just the top eight guys consistently.' That sentiment about broadening the array of players who get regular media exposure was echoed, including by one player who suggested a more concerted effort to make Spanish-speaking players more comfortable with English-speaking media. 'I've got two things,' one player said. 'One, do the (World Baseball Classic) at the All-Star break. And two, do more, like, worldwide events. More (games in) England. More, like, Spain if there are stadiums to hold it. South America. Events around the world.' Generally, the idea of promoting baseball — in different markets, to different fans, using a wider array of players — was the most common off-the-field suggestion. One player said he'd like to see more 'Hard Knocks' style baseball documentaries. Another said there should be more fan access in ballparks. Another said ticket prices should be slashed. 'I would just do cooler things for the fans to enjoy the game,' one player said, getting to the heart of the matter. 'Like, I feel like the NFL and NBA have cooler jerseys. We could have some cooler stuff. We're starting to do it with the City Connects, adding all the colors. And football and basketball games, they're playing music while the game's going on, maybe you could do something like that. Make it more entertaining.' Players have long pushed in CBA negotiations for a quicker path to free agency and arbitration, but ownership naturally prefers more years of team control. It's a well-established sticking point that was mentioned a handful of times in our survey. Advertisement 'The arbitration system,' said one player with limited service time. 'I am an older player, and I'm not going to have much of a chance to earn a lot of money because the team controls me for several years. By the time I could even be a free agent, I will likely be near the end of my career. It's kind of a messed-up system to begin with.' One player suggested teams do more to help pay for housing, especially in spring training. Another suggested larger rosters to spread the workload and perhaps limit injuries. Among the less-obvious suggestions about the player experience: allowing players to be more creative in what they wear on the field; limiting the amateur draft to college players only; and an offseason trade deadline. 'Find a way to keep teams more competitive, I guess,' one player said. 'To make games more meaningful at the end of the season when teams are out of it. You can't do minor league style where there's a first-half and second-half winner, but like, finding a way to make it more competitive all the way through.' With an open-ended question like this, service time and the path to free agency are rarely far from the players' minds. 'Unless you're an absolute stud,' one said, 'it takes players a long time to get established, get their feet under them and start making good money. If we could shorten rookie minimum or arbitration to two years, it could be good for the game.' The schedule. The rules. The money. The marketing. We expected these types of suggestions. We did not expect … this. Match play, like in golf. 'Each inning is match play,' one player said, having clearly thought this through. 'We're at home and the other team goes 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Our guy hits a homer, we hit a walk-off in the bottom of the first. We win the first inning, and then it goes right to the top of the second.' Advertisement The player — a pitcher — noted that such a setup could completely revolutionize pitching staffs, with quicker innings making it easier to use only the top arms. 'It would eliminate my job,' he said. 'But it would make it interesting!' His wasn't the only out-of-the-box idea. One player called for expansion to 32 teams. Another requested more retractable roofs to avoid rain delays. Yet another recommended more demotions to the minor leagues — but for umpires, not players. 'You know in softball how they have the two bases at first?' one player said. 'That would be a good one.' Sure. Maybe. It's at least more realistic than the proposal that extra innings be replaced by a two-player home run derby, or the lengthy and detailed suggestion — with a reference to Greg Maddux and an insistence that this would increase offense — that television remove the strike zone box from broadcasts (because the TV strike zone has distorted the impression of the strike zone and changed the way pitchers earn strikes on the edges … though it's possible that might actually happen anyway?). 'From what I understand, the square is not the real strike zone anyway,' the player said. That's one way to think of changes outside of Major League Baseball itself. Another way? Get back to the roots of the game by recommending a change in the culture of youth baseball, its demand for expensive tournaments, and its push toward early specialization. 'That system is totally broken,' one player said. 'Yeah, exposure is great to get in front of the scouts and play, but I'm a firm believer that, if you're good, they're going to find you. 'Just let kids have fun.' Editor's note: Some player quotes included in this story have been lightly edited for length and clarity. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photo: Norm Hall / Getty Images)
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
MLB players talk biggest misconceptions about playing in the majors in anonymous poll
On almost any given night, from late March to early November, a baseball fan can turn on the television and find a game to watch. The players, managers and coaches of Major League Baseball can become a presence in the viewer's life, a collection of protagonists and antagonists able to be followed as spring turns to summer turns to fall. Because you can see these people all the time, you can understand their lives. Advertisement Yet to hear players tell it, there is still a sizable gap between the public's perception of the profession and the lived experience of the players. As part of The Athletic's annual MLB Player Poll, our writers offered the participants a chance to correct the record: What is the biggest misconception about the lifestyle of a baseball player? More than 130 players gave us their thoughts. The responses mostly fit into a few categories, with answers centered around the grind of the 162-game season, the extensive time commitment, the lack of free time with friends and family, and the economic realities of players on the fringes. Many respondents acknowledged the remarkable privilege of playing professional sports while still taking a moment to vent. 'Our life is awesome, but it's not as easy as people think it is,' one National League pitcher said. 'I don't know if fans realize that when we say we spend more time with our teammates than our families, we're not exaggerating. It's not even close. That's why I say if you want to be a good dad, a good husband, it's not easy.' Added another National League pitcher, 'I haven't seen my mom on her birthday in 17 years. Little things like that that matter to me. People are like, 'Yeah, but you're getting paid, you're getting treated great.' . . . I've missed so many things for so many years, even before pro ball. Like, I couldn't go to my prom because I had a baseball tourney, you know? It's just little sacrifices you make over the years that you never get back.' The answers revealed one connection between the average baseball player and the average baseball consumer: traveling can be miserable. No, players don't have to worry about missing a connecting flight or checking the hotel room for bed bugs. But even with chartered planes and top-shelf hotels, players said, putting your life in a suitcase several times a month can be exhausting. Advertisement 'You're packing up every single week,' one National League hitter said. 'You're either going home or on the road. You pretty much only spend one week in one spot.' Added an American League pitcher, 'People don't fully understand the travel. Getting in late at night and going on short rest. Playing at night. Playing 162 games. I don't think people fully see everything that goes into that, and how it affects your body towards the middle to the end of the year.' Added a National League pitcher, 'I don't know if people realize how hectic the travel is and how exhausting that is. There's so little downtime.' The proliferation of data and the importance of advanced scouting has led to longer days at the ballpark. Rebuilding teams devote those hours to helping players develop at the big-league level. Contending teams use the time to share strategies to win that night. Which means . . . 'People ask what time I get here, and I tell them 1 p.m. — they're shocked,' one National League pitcher said. And that guy might be getting to the park a tad too late. 'We get here at noon,' one American League pitcher said. 'We practice before. Everyone has his own routine: weightlifting, throwing. We get to the field way before first pitch.' Added a National League position player, 'They think we just show up and play the game. But they don't really see the work that goes in the hours before: going over scouting reports, hitters' meetings, base running meetings and doing your full warm-up routine. Go to BP, chill for a second and then get it going again to play a game. After the game, get a lift in, talk to the media, go get dinner, see your family. It's a full-day thing.' This could explain, one American League hitter suggested, why it might not be easy to snag an autograph during batting practice. 'People think we are arrogant with our time, but our time is very limited during (batting) practice,' the player said. Advertisement Because the day begins long before the television broadcast starts, one National League pitcher said, that could explain why fans question a team's effort during a losing streak. 'Sometimes when it goes bad, they don't have the empathy because they don't see the work we're putting in behind the scenes,' the player said. This is the labor required to make routine plays look routine. And even then, several players said, the routine can be difficult to execute. One National League pitcher harrumphed about those who think 'that the game's f—ing easy. Everyone complains about what might seem like the simplest tasks, but in our world, it's one of the hardest things to do in sports.' The schedule makes activity away from the ballpark less adventurous. 'The lifestyle of ballplayers has changed drastically over the last 20 years,' one American League pitcher said. 'People aren't going out. There's not a nightlife. People think players go out and do whatever they want. That doesn't happen anymore. But apparently back in the day, it did.' Added another American League pitcher, 'People are like, 'Dude, what's it like to be in Seattle for three days?' I got one lunch and one breakfast. You don't have time. I don't go to the beach.' Not even family members are immune to misunderstanding. 'I had family that was in town one time,' one National League hitter said. 'We had a game at 7 p.m. and they said, 'You want to get dinner at 5?' Yeah, I can't do that.' The strain that baseball puts on relationships with friends and family also came up often among our respondents. The schedule forces players to miss milestones. 'Can't go to any weddings ever,' one pitcher said. It strains the connections with friends. 'I haven't had a summer since I was eight or nine,' one American League hitter said. It puts stress on your partner and children. 'When you have kids and you're away from home half the month, going city to city, it's just not as glamorous as people think,' another National League pitcher said. The time at the top can be fleeting. 'We're all people, just like everybody else, trying to make a living,' one American League pitcher said. 'Not every single player on the baseball field has superstar status. Most of the guys up here and grinding just to try to stay afloat. I mean, we're all having the time of our lives. But at the same time, most players are grinding their butt off to stay there. Most careers aren't as long as people think. I've talked to guys who got two or three years up here and they wish they'd been able to enjoy it more. But they were grinding so hard just to stay at this level.' Advertisement Which brings us to . . . the money. The major-league minimum salary is $760,000 in 2025, and it will rise to $780,000 in 2026, the final year of the current collective bargaining agreement. Suffice it to say, that is good work if you can get it. But as the players have already detailed, to reach this summit requires sacrifices. 'People see the contracts we sign, or even the major-league minimum and think we're set for life,' one National League hitter said. 'You don't know what goes into it.' And achieving the right to earn millions through arbitration and then free agency is a privilege that most players cannot reach. 'Baseball shows the top one percent, and those are the people that are marketed,' one American League pitcher said. 'But no one really knows about the guy who has parts of five years in the show but only 20-something days total, the fringe guys their entire career. Yes, they're making good money, but by no means are they wealthy. There's probably a misnomer (that) if you play baseball, you're incredibly rich.' Added another American League pitcher, 'Yes, the living is good. Yes, we make good money, some way more than others. But the logistics behind everything, moving your family, paying for two to three mortgages and the stress it causes some families. You're always on the move and until you're on a guaranteed contract, you're kind of living out of a suitcase. There's a lot of logistics and not knowing that I don't think people understand.' Added one National League pitcher, 'The biggest misconception is that people look at you like you're a multi-multi-millionaire because you're in the big leagues. Don't get me wrong, we make good money, but people ask me how many homes I've got. It's not like that in your first year — you're making the minimum, which is good money, but you're not like crazy rich.' Some of these gripes may not be well-received. It may be hard to find pity for the American League hitter who groused that 'nobody realizes we have to pay big-time taxes on our salaries.' It may be difficult to empathize with the fellow complaining about paying three different mortgages — an offseason home, a spring-training property and a regular-season home. But these are the realities that some players face, ones that they believe the public does not recognize. Advertisement 'I don't think people understand the logistics, especially if you have a family, of trying to organize moving, living in three different places, traveling with kids, making sure they have cribs,' one American League pitcher said. 'The stress just mounts. We just moved to a city that neither of us has ever been to. Money certainly helps, but it doesn't solve all of those problems.' One National League hitter found a pithy way to summarize the knowledge gap between the players and the public. 'I don't really know,' the player said, 'what people think about us.' Editor's note: Some player quotes included in this story have been lightly edited for length and clarity. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photo: iStock)
