The Miami Marlins dealt another high-salary player on Thursday when it shipped outfielder Christian Yelich to Milwaukee for Lewis Brinson and three minor leaguers.
The trade was the fourth in an effort to reduce the club’s payroll.
The team was set to pay out $140 million had they kept all of their players. Instead, new owners Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter have pared it down to $97 million. They told owners during the approval process that the goal was $90 million.
In addition to Yelich, the team has dealt National League home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, who was due to make $25 million in 2018, to the Yankees. The team also dealt Marcell Ozuna, who was to make $25 million to the Cardinals. Dee Gordon, whose salary was $10 million, was sent to the Seattle Mariners.
Miami’s Trades Benefit Clubs
Almost immediately the Yankees became the favorite to win the World Series after Stanton was sent to New York. He joined Aaron Judge, who was the American League home run leader in 2017. The team went from 8-1 before the trade to win the World Series to 5-1 and the favorite.
It will be the fourth time in MLB history that the two leagues home run leaders played for the same team the following season. It will also be the second time that two teammates who hit 50 or more dingers in the previous season are teammates. The other was another pair of Yankees, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1962.
Before Yelich was sent to the Brewers they were 30-1 and now find themselves at 20-1.
The Cardinals and Mariners have not seen a bump in their odds. St. Louis has stayed at 20-1 while Seattle actually dropped from 30-1 to 33-1.
Miami has dropped as well. They began at 80-1 and after the transactions have dropped to 100-1. Only Cincinnati, Detroit and San Diego have worse odds at 125-1. One internet site has the team at the bottom along with Detroit at 200-1.
Formal Complaint Filed
The moves have been criticized by many including the Major League Baseball Player’s Union. Representatives for the players went to Commissioner Rob Manfred to voice their displeasure.
Players union spokesman Greg Bouris told the Miami Herald that they believe Miami and Pittsburgh are hurting the league with their actions. The team has received approximately $110 million from Major League Baseball between the national TV contract and revenue sharing.
“We have raised our concerns regarding both Miami and Pittsburgh with the Commissioner, as is the protocol under the collective bargaining agreement and its revenue sharing provisions,” he said. “We are waiting to have further dialogue and that will dictate our next steps.”
The union complained to MLB about the Marlins in 2010 not spending enough of its revenue share on players and forced the team to increase their payroll. The same thing could happen if the Manfred sides with the union and forces Miami to spend some of the money it has received from television deals and other income.
