First came Shin-Soo Choo. Then David Price.
One thousand dollars to each minor-leaguer in their respective organization. That's what the pair committed.
They were the kind of gestures that should make many want to do more. Flat-out.
Not too soon after Royals president Dayton Moore announced his organization wouldn't be releasing any minor-leaguers while paying them all throughout a season that likely will never happen. Again, this should have inspired other decision-makers.
Remember, the legendary Pete Frates started a historic fundraising campaign for ALS with a bucket of ice. Consider the actions of Choo, Price and Moore baseball's bucket of ice.
It's time to wake up some well-to-do people and remind them why they once got into this baseball business.
If you're a player who makes a lot of money, do something along the lines of what Choo and Price committed to. If you're an owner, stop worrying about bottom lines and independently carve out some of your wealth to pass along to these minor-leaguers. Heed the words of Moore because they are true. Keeping these minor-leaguers in business is just as valuable as anything that can be haggle over in the CBA.
You can take sides as to who is in the right when it comes to the negotiations involving the 2020 season. The owners. The players. There is too much distrust and selfishness to come to any sort of universal atta-boys. This, however, shouldn't be up for debate. This is about right and wrong. This is about making a difference at a time differences need to be made.
What is the excuse not to?
There are players who have used their financial good fortune to help in these past few months. Mookie Betts bought groceries. Bryce Harper gave $500,000 to coronavirus relief, with Jason Heyward offering $200,000 to the same cause. These acts are obviously heartening. But for those in the game sitting on a pile of cash, or in a position to influence the collective to make a financial difference, it's time to wake up and help patch this one leak.