The MLB lockoutIt’s over.
Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association and Major League Baseball were stuck in a deadlock for over three months. came to terms on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
How did the process of finally signing a contract go down? When will free agents be allowed to sign again? When can players report to camp for free? Is there any meaning to all of this chaos?
ESPN’s baseball experts, Alden Gonzalez and Buster Olney, Jesse Rogers, David Schoenfield, break down the highlights and discuss what is next.
What has changed for the better to allow both sides to agree to a deal?
Movement was created by urgency. The league gave them a deadline of February 28. But the union did not panic. They came up with a better deal and more urgency a week later. The league had set a deadline of February 28th. After months of stagnant negotiations, this was the right offer. The union’s calmness despite the “deadlines” proved to be fruitful. — Jesse Rogers
What should you know?
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Opening Day is moved to April 7, when a complete 162-game program will be played
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Spring training camps will open on March 11, with a voluntary report date of March 11 and a mandatory reporting date of March 13.
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Spring training games begin March 17
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Once the CBA has been ratified, agency is free to start immediately
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This season, the playoffs will be expanded to 12 teams.
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Starting this season, the National League adopts the designated batter
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CBT to start at $230 Million and grow to $244 Million
Takeaways
What’s the greatest change in the CBA for the sport?
David Schoenfield:We shouldn’t overthink it: Two is the greatest change. additional playoff teamsThis means that 12 of the 30 teams will make it to the postseason. Although the owners couldn’t achieve the 14-team format that they wanted, this represents a 50% increase of playoff teams since 2011. What does it all mean? It’s been historically difficult to reach the MLB playoffs. However, the regular season is becoming less important as baseball moves closer to the 16-team brackets for the NBA and NHL. We don’t know if it will result in more spending. Although the players aren’t convinced, it may lead to less tanking and more spending by teams trying to secure extra playoff berths.
What surprised you the most about what hasn’t changed?
Jesse Rogers: I am surprised that more anti-tanking laws weren’t taken. While a draft lottery would be a good place to start, it is not enough to end the losing cycles we’ve witnessed in big and small markets. One agent was open to the idea of a salary ceiling, which was suggested by the league in the early stages. However, it would have CBT-style penalties for those who go below it and continued penalties for those who go over it. It would have been better to incentivize teams rather than force them to spend.
Which side did it better? Is there any reason for both sides to be happy?
Bradford DoolittleThe owners were granted a modified postseason format that preserved the fundamental economic structures that prevailed over the previous couple of CBAs, but allowed for more flexibility in changing the rules on-the-field. The owners won. The owners did provide a few mechanisms for younger players to receive more money. Some of the high-end spending might be reduced by tweaking CBT levels or penalties. High-end agents will be free if the international draft deal is completed and qualifying offers are eliminated. If the draft lottery results in fewer teams rebuilding full-scale, then maybe that will boost mid-level free agent. Most likely not. The gains for MLBPA are modest, and any change to the status quo would be a good thing for owners. This agreement does not appear to further the MLBPA’s goal of increasing the aggregate revenue share of players, which is likely to continue growing. — Bradford Doolittle
Fans will forget about this mess by Opening Day, or will there still be bitterness?
Alden Gonzalez: Perhaps I’m optimistic, but spring training is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Camps will begin while major trades and big-name agents sign. Opening Day is upon us. Fernando Tatis Jr., Shohei OhtaniAnd Juan SotoWe will be captivated once more. The All-Star Game will take place at a newly renovated Dodger Stadium. The postseason field is larger than ever and new rules will be introduced to speed up play. All the selfishness, pettiness and insincerity of these negotiations will soon be forgotten because there will be too many other things. This is why it was important to close the deal quickly, and salvage a full season, even though Opening Day was delayed about a week ago.
What does this CBA signify for CBA negotiations in the future?
Buster Olney: Although the new CBA has been put in place, you can already see the storm clouds gathering. Because there is not much in the deal to help them, lingering player anger within the union is likely. The biggest impact of the practice is on the middle class. Teams pocket more than spend and there was very little done to discourage teams from tanking.
The current system will reward elite players. The bonus pool will give more money to the top players, while the richest older players will still get the largest deals. However, this does not guarantee that mid-market and small-market teams will spend. With the best players becoming more expensive, teams may be more aggressive in not tendering arbitration-eligible player. This will fuel the supply-and demand problem that has reduced spending on middle-class areas.
It has been the owners that have faced a Haves Vs. Have Nots dilemma in the past. Factions within the union will continue to fight each other — and there will be discussions about whether it is best for all the players that the entire leadership group is represented by one agent. Scott Boras’s clients accounted for the majority of the decision-makers in this round. Agents and players will try to change this dynamic over the coming years, in order to promote the large number of union members that make up the rank-and file.