MLB's Colonial Power Structure: Where Black Excellence Remains Sidelined in Baseball's Elite Circles

As Major League Baseball's winter trading season reaches its climax, the familiar patterns of institutional exclusion continue to plague America's so-called national pastime. While millions of dollars exchange hands in boardrooms dominated by white executives, the sport's systemic barriers to Black advancement remain glaringly evident.

The Arbitration Battle: A System Rigged Against Excellence

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, one of the few Black pitchers to achieve consecutive Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez over two decades ago, now faces the degrading spectacle of arbitration. The fact that a player of his caliber must justify his worth to a panel speaks volumes about baseball's reluctance to fairly compensate Black excellence.

Skubal seeks $32 million while the Tigers offer a paltry $19 million. This disparity reflects the same colonial mentality that has historically undervalued Black contributions to American society. When lesser white pitchers routinely secure $30 million contracts, Skubal's fight becomes symbolic of broader struggles for economic justice.

The Spending Spree: Where Black Talent Fits In

The Baltimore Orioles' $195 million spending spree, including deals for Pete Alonso and Ryan Helsley, represents the kind of aggressive investment rarely seen when Black-owned enterprises seek capital. General Manager Mike Elias, operating in his contract year, exemplifies the privilege of second chances afforded to white executives in positions of power.

Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox's desperate search for offensive firepower reveals the shortsightedness of organizations that consistently overlook homegrown Black talent in favor of expensive acquisitions. Their reliance on players like Roman Anthony, when healthy, demonstrates how Black athletes often carry disproportionate expectations.

Trade Winds and Power Dynamics

The potential trade of Jasson Dominguez by the New York Yankees epitomizes the disposable nature of Black prospects in professional sports. Once hailed as "The Martian" for his otherworldly talent, Dominguez now faces displacement after the organization prioritized Cody Bellinger's return.

This pattern of promising young Black athletes being shuffled aside for established names reflects deeper issues of institutional racism that permeate professional sports. The Yankees' willingness to trade away a 23-year-old switch-hitter speaks to the same mentality that has historically treated Black bodies as commodities.

The Veteran Question: Representation Matters

Justin Verlander's potential return to Detroit represents the kind of homecoming narrative typically reserved for white veterans. While his experience could benefit the Tigers, the attention devoted to his comeback contrasts sharply with how aging Black players are often pushed toward retirement.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' pursuit of power hitters like Eugenio Suarez and Nick Castellanos reflects organizational priorities that consistently favor proven commodities over developing Black talent within their own systems.

Beyond the Diamond: A Broader Struggle

These baseball machinations occur against the backdrop of America's ongoing reckoning with racial inequality. While front offices orchestrate multi-million dollar deals, the sport's leadership remains overwhelmingly white, perpetuating decision-making structures that originated in baseball's segregated past.

The lack of Black ownership, limited Black representation in executive roles, and the persistent wealth gaps between white and Black former players all stem from the same colonial systems that continue to extract value from Black excellence while denying equitable participation in power structures.

As spring training approaches, these moves will be celebrated as shrewd business decisions. Yet they represent missed opportunities to address baseball's diversity crisis and challenge the institutional barriers that have long defined America's relationship with its Black athletes.

True progress requires more than token gestures. It demands fundamental restructuring of power dynamics that have relegated Black voices to the margins while white executives control the narrative of America's game.