With Sandy Alcántara trade rumors swirling, the Miami Marlins face a potential players union grievance for their lack of spending. The Marlins are on alert, or at least they should be, as The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports Miami’s spending habits have them in hot water with the players union. Under the collective bargaining agreement, teams must carry a payroll more than 1 ½ times the amount they receive from local revenue sharing. This is something that smaller market teams like the Athletics and Marlins that rely heavily on revenue sharing have to be mindful of. But unlike the A’s, the Marlins have yet to add to their luxury tax payroll this offseason.
Once again, the Marlins’ lack of spending risks grievance from players’ union. Column: https://t.co/LiYjPU3gMM
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 18, 2025
Miami’s magic number under the collective bargaining agreement this season will likely be roughly $105 million. According to Fangraphs, the Marlins are operating roughly $18 million below their magic luxury tax number required by the end of the season. Should they fail to reach the luxury tax threshold, the Marlins would be at risk of facing a grievance next offseason. This is not the first time the notoriously frugal franchise has been in trouble with the players’ union for their spending either. Under owner Bruce Sherman, who took control in 2017, the Marlins have had two revenue-sharing grievances filed against them.
Marlins Facing Potential Third Players’ Union Grievance for Lack of Spending
Rather than add to their payroll to avoid a potential third grievance, the Fish are expected to trade their highest-paid player, ace Sandy Alcántara. Alcántara looks sharp this spring after missing 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, and he will draw significant interest at the deadline. Should the Marlins trade the 29-year-old, their luxury tax payroll would drop by his $11.2 million average annual value salary.
After signing only one notable free agent, right-hander Cal Quantrill, trading Alcántara without another signing would almost certainly incite a grievance. Under the CBA, the players’ union can file a grievance if revenue-sharing dollars are not used to improve on-field performance. Teams like the Marlins, with a payroll below 150% of revenue sharing, have to prove they used the money properly.
According to Rosenthal, Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix will argue investments in “building a foundation” for their rebuild. Miami is coming off a 100-loss season and the voluntary departure of 2023 National League Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker. New manager Clayton McCullough’s roster will include just four players with more than three years of major league service time. Bendix, who took over in 2023, has made more than 25 trades, most of which traded away Miami’s top talent. Yet, despite trading Luis Arráez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Tanner Scott, and Jesús Luzardo, their farm system remains among the lowest-ranked.
Miami has plenty of young talent, but the easiest way to rebuild and avoid another grievance is to spend money. Adding a veteran free agent or adding an affordable arm to the pitching staff would go a long way. But refusing to spend the CBA minimum and a homeless Athletics team outspending them will not help Miami build a championship-caliber franchise.
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