A radar device, replay screen, is set up behind home plate at the Atlantic League’s PeoplesBank Park minor ballpark on Jul 10, 2019 in York PA. 13 Spring Training parks will use the robo umpire that will host 19 teams in Major League Baseball Cactus and Grapefruit League games (AP file photo)
Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:
#1 Major League Baseball announced that they will give a demonstration on how the auto balls and strikes challenge system will work. As baseball is moving towards using the Robo-umpires. In the minor leagues the robo umpire was used. The players have voiced their objections to the idea of using robo umpires, “It’s just not a video game” said San Francisco Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison.
#2 One of the sticking points of a negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the MLBPA is the salary cap and Commissioner Rob Manfred realizes that’s a touchy point with the players and if a cap were to be instituted it could trigger a players strike after the 2026 season. As the owner complain that the Los Angeles Dodgers have a monopoly of high priced talent Manfred is backpedaling on any idea of a salary cap saying he would not commit to a salary cap.
#3 It’s a real competition and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is not hesitating on coming up to par with the Dodgers. Cohen so far has a payroll of $325 million for the 2025 season that includes a 15 year $765 million contract with Juan Soto. Jessica there is no doubt that Cohen wants to build a winner.
#4 The Tampa Bay Rays have outspent the Chicago Cubs for the 2025 season in free agency money and that’s considering that the Rays will be playing in the New York Yankees spring training facility for the regular season in a park that seats 11,000 fans. That had third baseman Alex Bregman looking for greener pastures leaving the Cubs for the Boston Red Sox and leaving Cubs owner Tom Ricketts with very little answers on how the Cubs will be competitive this sesason?
#5 The Rays are not the only big league club that will be playing in a minor league park for the 2025 season. The Sacramento A’s will be using the San Francisco Giants minor league park Sutter Health Field in West Sacramento for their regular season games. The Sacramento park seats 14,014 and is nearly sold out for it’s games. The A’s will play any post season games at a neutral site location to be named later.
Join Jessica Kwong for Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com



