In the last few hours, MLB sent mixed signals about their desire to get a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) done.
Late on Tuesday, they made significant movement in their competitive balance tax (CBT) proposals to the Players Association.
They are now willing to start at $230 million in 2022 and go all the way to $242 million in 2026.
They also improved their pre-arbitration pool offer to $40 million and their minimum salary proposal from $700,000 in 2022 to $770,000 in 2026.
However, they decided to introduce a new items in negotiations: the international draft.
The international draft would replace the current international free agent signing period, previously on July 2 and now moved to January.
Players Don’t Love The Idea Of An International Draft
Some players are adamantly against the idea, however, because they feel players wouldn’t be able to choose their destination and there would be other significant changes in the way things have been done for years.
A CBA deal today, as a result, is highly unlikely.
MLB, therefore, seems to take a step forward and then one backwards with its actions.
“This is what, the fourth or fifth day that MLB has told reporters that they’re feeling optimistic, introduced a substantial new component that the players are unsure of, and then ran to the press to say that the players are ruining everything by not taking the deal,” reporter Nick Stellini tweeted.
This is what, the fourth or fifth day that MLB has told reporters that they're feeling optimistic, introduced a substantial new component that the players are unsure of, and then ran to the press to say that the players are ruining everything by not taking the deal
— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) March 9, 2022
Although there was some late movement by the Players Association in core economic issues that could facilitate a deal eventually, there will be no deal unless the league drops their pursuit of the international draft.
There is just too much resistance on the players’ side.
Another potential avenue is that MLB agrees to implement the draft, but at a much later date, like David Ortiz suggested.
In any case, we may have some more cancellations coming.
NEXT: Contingent Of MLB Players Not Accepting An International Draft
