MLB, union reach tentative agreement on new CBA, salvage 162-game season

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached a tentative agreement on a new collective-bargaining agreement Thursday, ending the league's 99-day lockout of the players and salvaging a 162-game season, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.

With the end of the second-longest work stoppage in the game's history, spring training camps will open on Sunday, free-agent signings and trades will abound, and baseball will attempt to return to some semblance of normalcy after months of fraught negotiations.

The deal materialized after talks ratcheted up this week, when the league made a proposal that bridged the significant gap in the competitive-balance tax, a key issue in the end stages of talks. A dispute over an international draft threatened negotiations and caused the league to "remove from the schedule" another two series on Wednesday, but those issues were resolved Thursday morning and the league delivered a full proposal to the union, which it voted to accept.

The basic agreement governs almost all aspects of the game, but baseball's core economics were front and center in the labor talks. In addition to the CBT move, the minimum salary governing players with less than three years of major league service will jump from $570,500 to $700,000, growing to $780,000, and a bonus pool worth $50 million will be distributed among those younger players who have yet to reach salary arbitration.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33470321/sources-mlb-union-reach-tentative-agreement-new-cba-salvage-162-game-season

[True Dough]

1. Thank goodness they came to their senses!

It ain't like there isn't enough money to go round.

[Auggie]

2. Details (be careful what you wish for)

MLB had pushed for expanding the postseason to 12 teams -- a plan to which the MLBPA agreed. Additionally, player uniforms will feature advertising for the first time, with patches on jerseys and decals on batting helmets.

Other elements of the deal include:

• A 45-day window for MLB to implement rules changes -- among them a pitch clock, ban on shifts and larger bases in the 2023 season

• The National League adopting the designated hitter

• A draft lottery implemented with the intent of discouraging tanking

• Draft-pick inducements to discourage service-time manipulation

• Limiting the number of times a player can be optioned to the minor leagues in one season

LINK: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33470321/sources-mlb-union-reach-tentative-agreement-new-cba-salvage-162-game-season

Ban on shifts ... how Little League.

Universal DH ...

[El Supremo]

6. Two of these rules really strike at the heart of baseball.

No, not the DH. That gets rid of an inequity that has hurt the game ever since pitchers couldn't hit.

There has never been a clock on anything. That's one thing sets baseball apart from all other major team sports.

And players have never had to play in any certain place. Even pitchers could trade locations with other players.

Also having 12 postseason teams further dilutes the reason for a six months long 162 game season.

[Auggie]

7. Good post. Plus, near as I can tell, nothing addresses the plight of small market teams

The agreement appears to make it more difficult for them: minimum salaries and the CBT are increasing.

Unless franchises like the Athletics, Guardians, Orioles, Royals, Twins, etc. are lying about how poor they really are, we'll continue to see them hemorrhage free agents and enter into rebuilding cycles every three to four years while franchises with huge media contracts (Yankees and Dodgers) continue to dominate. Tell me just how the hell I'm supposed to get excited about this?

I'm making an effort this year not to contribute to baseball profits. It's still free on the radio. I urge everyone to join me.

[El Supremo]

8. OMG!

So you will give me a heart next year???

[Auggie]

9. I'm going to make you wait to find out ...

[IggleDuer]

3. Advertising on uniforms?

Wait until Target wants to put their trademark on players’ helmets.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. Tony La Russa's wet dream.

[awesomerwb1]

5. So.....

the billionaire owners and the millionaire players are happy now?

Fans: Get ready to pay $200+ for a night out at the ballpark for a family of 4.