That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Will $1.8 billion loss force MLB to shutdown/lockout in 2027?

New York Mets Juan Soto (22) slugs a three run home run in the fourth inning as Washington Nationals catcher Jorge Alfaro (left) watches at Citi Field in New York on Fri Sep 19, 2025. Soto is the highest paid player on the Mets. The Mets claim they lost $350 million because of their $342 million payroll in the 2025 season. (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

How much of the $1.8 billion loss is due to player payroll, especially on high-spending teams?
- For example, the Mets reportedly lost ~$350 million, largely driven by their $342 M payroll.
Did declining or restructuring media revenue contribute significantly to the losses?
- Around 25% of team revenue comes from media, and teams have reportedly struggled to replace traditional regional sports network (RSN) deals.
- Also, MLB and ESPN mutually ended their $550M/year deal early, which could have left a big revenue gap.
How much of the loss is “paper accounting” versus real cash-flow problems?
- Some insiders suggest these losses are accounting losses — not necessarily indicative of a decline in franchise value.
Is there a structural imbalance in MLB’s economics ( lack of salary cap, uneven revenue sharing) that exacerbates these losses?
- MLB is reportedly considering a salary cap, which could indicate that current spending is unsustainable.
- Wealth disparities between big-market and small-market teams may be playing a role.
Are there longer-term strategic choices or risks ( media strategy, labor uncertainty) that could be contributing to the losses?
- With media rights changing and ESPN opting out, MLB’s future broadcast deals may be less lucrative.
- Also, potential labor issues loom: owners are discussing a salary cap ahead of the collective bargaining agreement expiring in 2026.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.