I'm not sure I really understand the timing of the MASN escape. MLB seems pretty interested in eventually selling all the local rights as a package and I don't see how breaking up an existing bundle helps with that. What could've changed to make it unprofitable to the O's? - ThreadSky

nextyeardc.com • 6 days ago

I'm not sure I really understand the timing of the MASN escape. MLB seems pretty interested in eventually selling all the local rights as a package and I don't see how breaking up an existing bundle helps with that.

What could've changed to make it unprofitable to the O's?

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thispersonstinks.bsky.social•6 days ago

I do think it’s about the potential sale of the team and also DC is one of the major markets. Rubenstein saw what’s going with RSNs and cut ties quick so his team goes in the natl media package. DC market itself is a different beast.

nextyeardc.com•6 days ago

I guess maybe they thought they could get a bigger buyout from the Nats now than they could from MLB in a couple years

thenatidude.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'm just glad it's over. It has removed Mark Lerner's best excuse for not spending money or will lead to a team sale. And MASN as a network is an embarrassment. Best off-field thing to happen to the franchise since drafting Strasburg.

davidhuzzard.bsky.social•6 days ago

There's a scenario where we don't want them to spend money next off-season. It's highly dependent on a couple surprising pitching developments but it does exist

letteddywin.bsky.social•6 days ago

Eh... I think James is right. Broadcast rights ain't the money printing press they used to be.
I've never understood why fans thought that "resolving MASN" would magically double the Nats' payroll.

nextyeardc.com•6 days ago

Lerners liked to imply that as it helped them in court but I agree it probably wouldn't have been a huge difference.

In terms of the team sale that seemed to be a more legitimate claim of a barrier.

letteddywin.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yes I guess they made that claim in court. I don't think I ever otherwise heard it mentioned by ownership as an influence on spending, or as a barrier to sale.

thenatidude.bsky.social•6 days ago

Anything is better than their current deal, which was a financial albatross. And Lerner wasn't going to sell the team unless/until it was resolved.

letteddywin.bsky.social•6 days ago

That's obviously what everybody speculates, but the deal existed when they bought the team. It's what they bought.
The only burden that they didn't expect was having to file lawsuits annually just to get paid.

graysnail.bsky.social•6 days ago

termination of the ESPN deal creating potential near-term cash flow issues?

nextyeardc.com•6 days ago

Maybe but I can't imagine that would be getting priced into their decision making this quickly

letteddywin.bsky.social•6 days ago

I think Nats fans fail to appreciate the fragility of broadcast rights deals in this environment. The dozen+ teams who sold their rights to bankrupt Bally would've loved the "certainty" of the Nats MASN deal. With rights values declining, backwards-looking valuations could be scary for Rubenstein. 🤷

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