Evan Longoria is latest MLB player to speak out against this year's slow free-agent market
Longoria said it’s a 'shame' top players still aren’t signed
The rumblings of a potential major labor fight seem to be growing by the day. We're less than a month from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, and we've still got plenty of big free agent names left on the board (including Bryce Harper and Manny Machado).
San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria took to Instagram on Friday to lament the current state of free agency. The 33 year old (who will be a free agent himself in 2022) said it's "such a shame" that so many top players are still available.
His photo highlighted Harper, Machado, Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel. Here's Longoria's caption:
"We are less then a month from the start of spring and once again some of our games biggest starts remain unsigned. Such a shame. It's seems every day now someone is making up a new analytical tool to devalue players, especially free agents. As fans, why should "value" for your team even be a consideration? It's not your money, it's money that players have worked their whole lives to get to that level and be deserving of. Bottom line, fans should want the best players and product on the field for their team. And as players we need to stand strong for what we believe we are worth and continue to fight for the rights we have fought for time and time again."
Longoria isn't the only player to speak out lately. He joins the growing chorus of players who are frustrated with the state of the free-agent market this winter:
- Kris Bryant said that it's "not good" that both Harper and Machado remain unsigned.
Kris Bryant, on Harper and Machado: “Its weird. It’s really weird. Two of the best players in the game and they have very little interest in them, from just what I hear. It's not good. Its something that will have to change. I know a lot of the other players are upset about it.”
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) January 19, 2019
- Phillies righty Jake Arrieta posted a tweet, warning young players about the future of free agency last week.
All of you 1-3 yr players out there better be paying attention to what’s going on in our game. You’re next. @MLB
— Jake Arrieta (@JArrieta34) January 12, 2019
- Toronto Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman shared his shock about the Machado market.
That’s it? All-around top 3 players in the game in my opinion! Yankees about to swoop back in. Lol 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/6DOlu8PZnD
— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) January 16, 2019
- Keuchel -- who was featured in Longoria's post -- said that a players' past accomplishments don't mean anything anymore.
That doesn’t mean anything anymore... apparently 😉 https://t.co/EJ8HtE7s0D
— Dallas Keuchel (@kidkeuchy) January 17, 2019
- Washington Nationals' closer Sean Doolittle spoke out about the record-high MLB revenues not matching up with the money being spent paying major league players and minor leaguers.
but the money from these record revenues aren’t being spent on paying players or minor leaguers and it costs the fans more to go to games (ticket prices, parking, concessions) than ever before so 🤷🏼♂️ https://t.co/gqIbkWxk0e
— Sean Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) January 11, 2019
Players publicly expressing their frustrations over MLB's spending (or lack thereof) the past two winters seems to be a signal that baseball is heading towards its next big labor fight, when the Collective Bargaining Agreement runs out in 2021.
















