MLB and the Players Association reached an impasse yesterday over the possibility of introducing an international draft.
The league reportedly wanted to replace the existing international free agent signing system with a draft, but some players were evidently against the idea, saying that it would completely change how things are done in the international market.
Union leader Max Scherzer clarified that owners were trying to catch them off guard by bringing up something that players had made it clear they didn’t want.
“I was in FL. We never offered the Int’l Draft. We did discuss it, but MLB told us they were NOT going to offer anything for it. At that point, we informed all players & agreed to no draft. This is MLB muddying the waters & deflecting blame. Fans, pls hang in there with us,” Scherzer tweeted yesterday.
The Main Roadblock Is Gone!
However, seeing how players would sign no deal containing an international draft at this stage, both parties agreed to establish July 25 as the deadline to discuss whether it will be introduced or not.
If the international draft enters the scene, the qualifying offer and draft pick compensation system for free agents goes away, but that’s something for another day.
Right now, there is a chance we may have baseball back soon.
“The International Draft was the hold up yesterday. We got pretty close elsewhere. Let’s do this!,” MLB analyst Ben Verlander tweeted.
The International Draft was the hold up yesterday. We got pretty close elsewhere. Let’s do this!
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) March 10, 2022
In fact, the two sides are close on core economic issues such as minimum salary, pre-arbitration bonus money, and competitive balance tax (CBT), but no deal is done at this hour and there is still some bargaining to do.
A deal has never felt closer, though, and that’s for sure.
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