At this point in time I'm far more concerned with the Dolans ability to survive the economic fallout from the virus than on future salary commitments. When this is all over, will they even be able to sustain a MLB franchise, let alone field a viable competitive team.
A small market franchise has three major revenue streams....media broadcast rights, attendance, and revenue sharing. Whether or not there is a season, two of those streams no longer exist for this year.
Like restaurants and bars, MLB is not immune to the economic impact of the pandemic. I have many friends and acquaintances in the bar and restaurant business. Some are very good at that and have made good profits. Some are not and have squeaked by. The latter will soon be gone. But even the best are in deep financial doo doo. Some of them wont survive for no fault of their own.
If they have to cut their seating in half, their revenue streams are cut in half. And if their labor costs rise in order to provide the requisite sanitation services, that adds to the problem. And exactly how many of their customers are gonna be shy for a very long time about joining the crowd?
The Indians have cut payroll two consecutive years, because attendance has not followed on the field success. They are now running on a shoestring budget. We can argue from now to kingdom come as to whether the Dolans are cheap or financially prudent, but nobody can argue that they have the same financial wherewithal as the vast majority of MLB franchises.
The Dolans are not billionaires, nor do they control a large corporation with the ability to subsidize a MLB franchise.
It is my speculation, with nothing to go on, other than some rumblings from folks I talk with in the Cleveland business community, that the Dolans are at least receptive to the idea of selling the team. But right now, who is willing to buy a MLB franchise, unless they can get it for pennies on the dollar.
Consider that this year is a loss, whether there is a season or not, and labor unrest is only another year away.
To me it appears that the Dolans are between the proverbial rock and hard place, and that isnt good for the Cleveland Indians.