Three Major League Baseball teams might make less money during the 2024 season as part of a tentative deal reached last week to keep the regional sports network alive for another year. Now, Bally Sports will make a final offer to MLB this this week that could see three MLB teams take less money or be dropped.
Nine MLB teams under contract with Bally Sports’ parent company, Diamond Sports Group, will be paid their full contracted rates for the 2024 season, according to Sports Business Journal. These teams include the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays.
The Texas Rangers, the Cleveland Guardians, and the Minnesota Twins, however, are expected to be offered a last-ditched contract this week that will offer rates lower than their existing contracts. If the teams don’t accept the terms, Bally Sports will drop them. The regional sports network was already rumored to be considering dropping the three teams.
So far, the Tiger, Royals, Marlins, Brewers, and Rays have reportedly signed their streaming rights over to Bally Sports Plus.
Bally Sports’ deal with MLB would only secure its operations through the 2024 season. It’s unclear at this time if the network has a plan beyond next year.
Earlier this month, Bally Sports offered MLB less money for the 2024 season in exchange for all TV rights being returned to MLB at the end of the season. MLB rejected the offer and demanded that Bally pay in full or the TV rights would immediately be returned to MLB before the 2024 season.
This comes as Bally Sports has been trying to work its way out of bankruptcy. The network could get a lifeline from Amazon, who is reportedly in talks to invest in Diamond Sports Group.