The facts
The Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB owners and the MLB Players Association expires on Dec. 1, 2026, opening the door to a possible lockout. In an interview at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein told fellow owners that he bought the team partly because “they’re making more money than I’m making in private equity.” He added that his purchase also had a philanthropic motive to help revive Baltimore. The comments were reported by Fox News and cited by Baltimore Baseball. MLB revenue has risen in recent years while the lowest payrolls have stayed roughly flat, and revenue‑sharing distributes tens of millions of dollars each year to small‑market clubs such as the Pirates, Orioles and Marlins. Small‑market teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians have performed well in the postseason, challenging the owners’ narrative that a salary cap is needed to preserve competitive balance.
Our take
Well, look at that – a billionaire owner actually spilling the beans about how MLB is a cash‑cow. David Rubenstein, the Orioles’ guy who bragged that his friends are buying teams because they’re raking it in, went on record saying baseball makes more money than his private‑equity gigs. That’s the kind of straight‑up truth that makes the league’s whole salary‑cap crusade look like a bad joke. The owners have been whining about “financial necessity” while their balance sheets are swelling faster than a rookie’s rookie‑of‑the‑year stats. They want to lock players out on Dec. 1, crying about poverty and fairness, yet one of their own is out there flaunting the profit margins. It’s like a pitcher throwing a knuckleball in a hurricane – the façade crumbles the moment the truth surfaces. The revenue‑sharing system hands out tens of millions to small‑market clubs, meaning the Dodgers can splash $300 million and still lose, while the Guardians’ owner pockets a tidy cut from the league’s collective pie. The argument that a salary cap will level the playing field now sounds as hollow as a busted baseball. The owners are trying to cap player salaries while their own wallets keep inflating, and Rubenstein’s admission is the perfect nail in that coffin. It’s not a negotiation; it’s a hostage‑taking stunt by a bunch of greedy bastards who think they can pull the rug out from under the players. The fans see the charade, and the only thing left to do is call them out for the lying, avaricious cunts they are. Fuck them all, enjoy the lockout, and watch the league implode on its own greed.
