Bold statement: Jake Cronenworth is not just playing baseball this spring—he’s steering a high-stakes fight for players as MLB labor talks loom over the CBA deadline.
San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth is entering his seventh season in brown and gold, but this spring he’s busier off the field than ever, contributing at the Peoria Sports Complex beyond his usual on-field duties.
Cronenworth is among eight players on the Major League Baseball Players Association executive subcommittee, placing him at the heart of tense labor negotiations as the current collective bargaining agreement nears its December expiration.
“I take a lot of pride in this work. I truly love fighting for not just our guys but all players in baseball,” Cronenworth told ABC 10News Sports Director Ben Higgins on the “Ben and Woods” show on 97.3 The Fan. He estimated he represents more than 1,200 players at the bargaining table.
The issues involved are intricate. Cronenworth acknowledged that many fans desire greater competitive balance across the league and less spending by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have recently won back-to-back World Series titles. However, like many players, he does not view a salary cap as the solution. He highlighted late Padres chairman Peter Seidler as an example of forward-thinking ownership: a leader who builds a winning team by signing players and drawing fans to the ballpark.
“Fans should want their team to win. 100 percent. We’re a perfect example of what that looks like. God bless Peter’s soul, but he did things the right way. He signed guys and drove people into the stands, and look at where we are now,” Cronenworth said.
Meanwhile, team owners reportedly remain committed to pursuing a salary cap and could initiate a lockout if negotiations stall. For now, Cronenworth remains grateful for the opportunity to play and to advocate for his fellow players as a new season approaches.
“Showing up in the morning, having breakfast and coffee with the guys every day…we’re truly blessed. It’s so much fun,” Cronenworth added.
The broader landscape remains wobbly: baseball has not missed a game due to a labor stoppage since 1994. If the sport wants to preserve that streak, it will require considerable effort from 30 team owners and player leaders like Cronenworth as the December deadline nears.
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