In the midst of another relatively cheap offseason for the Washington Nationals, there was a development this week in the ongoing MASN lawsuit that could change the team’s future. According to Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sunthe Nationals filed a petition upholding a previous MLB commission ruling that said the Orioles needed to inject the Nats with $320 million in cash in rights fees.
The renewal reinforces problems the Nationals have had with television rights for years. Ever since the Orioles came to Washington, D.C., they have monopolized Nats TV revenue, taking resources away from the team. That hasn’t necessarily stopped the Nationals from signing big-name players in the past, but the Lerner family has been more frugal since 2020.
Even if things stay the same, the Nationals will need to spend more. At this time, their salaries are expected to be as follows: below Last season’s total. This is unacceptable in a year when the team is supposed to be starting to climb up the National League standings. But if the Nationals get $320 million, it could be a chance to get the Nationals back on the path to a championship level. Even if the settlement does not work out, spending will have to increase.
Washington, DC is a top 10 media market in the country. Even though the TV revenue situation is improving, it would be outrageous for teams to spend like a small market. DC is a big market. It may not be New York or Los Angeles, but it’s a major market in its own right and has shown that it can garner a solid fan base in baseball and other sports with strong ownership prior to 2020. Look no further than the success of the Commanders and Capitals for an example of how smart management and winning spending come together to produce a win from the top down.
The Nationals need to spend money to compete in the National League East again. It’s tough to compete in a division with deep-pocketed teams like the Mets and Phillies and deep-pocketed teams like the Atlanta Braves. In the National League East, you can’t aim for a playoff spot through Moneyball like you can in the AL Central. This district is full of hard hitters, and the Nationals should be one of them.
