Local media rights typically are one of the largest—if not the top overall—individual revenue sources for most MLB clubs. But such is the troubled state of the regional sports network business that the Marlins have inverted that and turned their local TV situation into a new expense.

Nearly two months into a bitter carriage impasse between the bankrupt Bally Sports parent Diamond Sports Group and Comcast, the Marlins are now offering fans two free months of DSG’s streaming service, Bally Sports+. Normally, the service costs $19.99 per month, and even with the relatively meager size of the Marlins’ fan base, this promotion could easily run well into six figures in total cost to the team, if not more.