The last 36 hours or so have been full of discussions about MLB implementing an international draft to replace the existing January 15 signing period.
Players were opposed to the idea, and the talks once again reached a stalemate.
However, Thursday brought some good news: the two sides had decided to push negotiations for a hypothetical international draft for later, establishing July 25 as the deadline.
If players agree to the international draft, the existing qualifying offer system and the attached draft pick price tag for free agents would disappear.
If there isn’t a future agreement for the international draft, the QO and draft pick compensation would remain in place.
Now, there is a path for a deal to be completed in the next few hours, but there are some gaps to fill.
MLB Will Make An Offer Today
“MLB is currently working on its proposal and it will be submitted today once it’s completed. The two sides are then expected to re-engage in negotiations,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted on Thursday.
MLB is currently working on its proposal and it will be submitted today once it's completed. The two sides are then expected to re-engage in negotiations. https://t.co/RfbLgwCRHU
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 10, 2022
Right now, according to Evan Drellich, here is the scenario in the minimum salary department:
- MLB: $700,000 in 2022 / $715,000 in 2023 / $730,000 in 2024 / $750,000 in 2025 / $770,000 in 2026.
- MLBPA: $710,000 in 2022 increasing to $780,000 in 2026.
- Current gap: $10,000.
The gap that seemed like the most difficult one to solve, the competitive balance tax (CBT) threshold, is now within striking distance:
- Current gap: $2 million in 2022, growing to $8 million in 2026.
Now, the pre-arbitration bonus pool for outstanding players remains a bigger issue, as there is currently a $25 million in 2022, growing to $45 million by 2026: MLB wants a flat $40 million number.
Other small details remain to be sorted out, but there is now a path, a potential road towards a new CBA deal that gives us baseball back by next week.
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