Former MLB pitcher and current SiriusXM radio host Brad Lidge joined Dukes & Bell to talk about the labor negotiations between the MLB and MLBPA and whether an expanded playoff good for Major League Baseball?
“I’m all for it," said Lidge. "I think it worked as good as could have been expected when there were 16 teams in the COVID-shortened season. Now for me 16 and I think for most people year in and year out would be a completely watered down postseason. I don’t think anyone wants to see that. It’s not the NBA, which I’ve never agreed, you get teams under .500 in the playoffs. I don’t think that makes any sense.
"However I think 12-14 does make sense. I think it keeps a lot of other cities involved. Obviously the player's union has a right to be worried that 'hey maybe some of those top-tier teams won’t necessarily feel the urgency to go out and get more players if they’re guaranteed a slot if there’s 12 or 14 teams in the postseason.'”
Lidge talked about why he thinks it would be a good thing for the sport.
“I would argue that what it’s going to do is a lot of those teams that typically at the trade deadline are out, they’re gonna start being in on more things, it’s gonna encourage them, I think, to spend more money in the offseason and to call up younger players that can help their team earlier potentially in the season knowing that they might have an opportunity," Lidge said. "So I think 12 or 14 is a good idea. I think it just needs to be structured in a way that everybody can agree with.”