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Collective Bargaining Agreement

Latest On CBA Talks

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Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires this offseason, but the owners and players are working toward an agreement and it won’t be a surprise if they announce a deal soon. Here are the details on the collective bargaining process:

  • The MLB Players Association is willing to start taxing draft bonus spending, but they're adamantly against a hard-slotting system, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Slotting is the final major issue to resolve in talks between MLB and the players' union.
  • We should expect a new collective bargaining agreement by the end of the week, according to MLB.com's Barry Bloom (on Twitter).

Quick Hits: Pirates, CBA, Cubs, Royals

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Some late-night links on this Saturday night …

  • The Pirates are considering exercising shortstop Ronny Cedeno's $3MM 2012 option, but they will likely pass on options for Chris Snyder ($6.75MM), Ryan Doumit ($7.25MM) and Paul Maholm ($9.75MM), according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. As well, Langosch adds the Bucs have interest in re-signing first baseman Derrek Lee but will probably allow Ryan Ludwick to walk in free agency.
  • MLB and the players union are close on a new collective bargaining agreement, tweets Jon Heyman of SI.com, although slotting for draft signing bonuses remains an issue of debate. Commissioner Bud Selig and some small-market teams are in favor of hard slotting, according to Heyman.
  • Cubs president Theo Epstein said he wants to talk to starter Carlos Zambrano before deciding how to proceed in handling the right-hander, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, whether that be retaining Zambrano or trying to trade him. As well, Epstein hinted at one of the organization's overarching goals: "We're looking for assets," Epstein said. "We're going to scratch and claw and do everything in our power — in the Draft, internationally, small trades, waiver claims. We need to build assets because we don't have enough of them.
  • Royals GM Dayton Moore told Dick Kaegel of MLB.com that he will "explore trade possibilities to add a starter." Moore said the Royals probably won't try to sign a free-agent starter, however.

Heyman On Beltran, Reds, Fielder, CBA

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The latest from Jon Heyman of SI.com:

  • The Red Sox are expected to pursue Carlos Beltran, according to Heyman. Beltran won’t cost a draft pick and posted a .300/.385/.525 line in 2011, but he would block Josh Reddick in right field. He’d be replacing fellow Scott Boras client J.D. Drew.
  • The Reds are “still thinking about” Francisco Cordero’s $12MM option for 2012. Cincinnati considered an extension for Cordero in September. For all fantasy baseball updates on relievers, go to CloserNews.com and follow @closernews on Twitter.
  • The Mariners are believed to be eyeing free agent first baseman Prince Fielder. Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik drafted Fielder with the Brewers, but the Mariners already have switch-hitting first baseman Justin Smoak in place.
  • Heyman hears that the players and owners may compromise on the issue of slotting in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. The sides may be discussing a tax system for draft bonuses that would limit spending to an extent.

Draft/Int’l Spending Cap Discussed In CBA Talks

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A hard slotting system for the amateur draft is no longer the main issue holding up a new collective bargaining agreement, a source tells Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (Twitter link).  Still being discussed, however, are caps on both overall draft spending and for international signings.

Negotiations over the slotting system were thought to be the last obstacle to a new deal between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association.  Bud Selig has been vocal about limiting draft bonuses as a way of ensuring that richer teams don't have an advantage in selecting amateur players, while the MLBPA has been equally adamant about retaining amateur players' ability to negotiate the best possible contracts.  It has been reported by Buster Olney that MLB could yield on this issue since the league doesn't want to enter protracted labor negotiations.

A "draft cap" would have to be quite high for the MLBPA to consider anything that would limit player salaries.  A compromise could be an adjustable cap based on draft order, which Goldstein reports is also being discussed.  Teams with poor records and high first-round choices would have more money to sign their picks, whereas successful teams picking near the bottom of the first round would have a smaller draft cap under which to operate.

SI.com's Melissa Segura reported earlier today that an international signing cap could be in the range of $2-$2.5MM, though it wasn't certain if this total was for all international signings or just for those from the Dominican Republic. 

Quick Hits: Valverde, Wang, Cubs

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Links for Thursday afternoon, before what may be the final baseball game of the 2011 season…

  • The Tigers are expected to pick up Jose Valverde’s $9MM option for 2012 soon, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
  • Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post hears from Alan Nero, the agent for Chien-Ming Wang, that a new deal between the right-hander and the Nationals is likely. The Nationals are Wang's first choice and negotiations are "routine," according to Nero. Washington GM Mike Rizzo confirmed yesterday that the sides are working toward a new contract.
  • Cubs assistant GM Randy Bush will stay on under president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (on Twitter).
  • Melissa Segura of SI.com hears that baseball’s upcoming collective bargaining agreement could include a cap in the $2-2.5MM range for international signings (Twitter link). It’s not clear whether the cap would apply to all countries or just the Dominican Republic.

Draft Bonuses Last Major Issue In CBA Talks

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The last major issue remaining in discussions about a new collective bargaining agreement is signing bonuses for amateur draft picks, according to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press (link via the Miami Herald). Representatives for MLB and the MLB Players Association met yesterday in New York to discuss the upcoming CBA.

Commissioner Bud Selig wants to cap amateur signing bonuses with a slotting system. However, the players’ union opposes the idea of limiting draft bonuses for amateurs. Discussions about draft bonuses are tied to other parts of the agreement, according to Blum — not surprising given the nature of multi-variable negotiations. 

ESPN.com’s Buster Olney wrote last week that Selig is unlikely to fight hard for slotting since doing so would risk extending the negotiations. Selig repeated later in the week that slotting is “really critical" for him.

Selig On CBA, Slotting, Rays, Epstein, Playoffs

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Commissioner Bud Selig discussed several topics in an interview with Chris Russo of SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio today before Game 2 of the World Series.  Here are some of the highlights:

  • In regards to the ongoing negotiations about a new collective bargaining agreement, Selig said talks were "constructive," though it would be "pretty optimistic" to hope that a new deal could be announced before the end of the World Series.
  • The issue of a hard slotting system for the draft is "really critical" for Selig.  Buster Olney reported yesterday that Selig was unlikely to "dig in and fight" for slotting since doing so would prolong the labor negotiations.
  • Selig is hopeful that an extra wild card team in each league could be added in time for the 2012 postseason.  Selig hears from a number of managers that they would prefer a one-game playoff between each league's wild card teams, rather than a best-of-three playoff.
  • The commissioner is "concerned" about the low attendance in Tampa Bay.  The Rays "are a wonderful organization, produced a terrific team this year and finished last in the American League in attendance.  I’ll let you draw your own conclusion.  That’s bad."  The Rays' quest for a new stadium is not quite a "lost cause," as Russo describes, but Selig said he is "usually an optimist and I don’t have any reason to be too optimistic" about the situation.
  • Selig admitted that he could possibly be called in to decide the compensation the Cubs would owe the Red Sox for Theo Epstein.
  • Judging fair and foul balls could become reviewable via instant replay.  Besides this change, however, Selig said "there is no appetite anywhere, including mine, for any instant replay" of other plays.
  • "Never have so many [networks] been interested in acquiring our rights," Selig said in regards about MLB's next TV contracts for the postseason.

MLB, Union Progressing In CBA Talks

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MLB and the MLB Players’ Association are making “significant progress” toward a five-year extension of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The sides aren’t likely to reach a deal before the weekend, but they could agree to terms before the World Series ends. 

MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner confirmed to Strauss that there is “no lack of urgency” when it comes to finalizing a deal. Weiner said no one issue represents an overwhelming obstacle in the negotiations, though many issues have yet to be fully resolved. Strauss heard from another source who says the sides are working out the “nuts and bolts” of a new deal.

Baseball’s current CBA expires on December 11th, but it appears to be in both sides’ best interests to complete a deal by the time free agency begins in early November. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported this week that players and owners remain far apart on the issue of hard slotting for draft bonuses. Rosenthal also said a deal could occur during the World Series.

Quick Hits: Red Sox, Wilson, Johnson, CBA

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Links for Wednesday night as the Rangers and Cardinals get the World Series started in St. Louis…

  • When Rangers GM Jon Daniels was trying to break into baseball, he applied for an internship with the Red Sox, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Ben Cherington, now Boston's GM-in-waiting, was in charge of hiring a new intern for the Red Sox and he chose Jed Hoyer, now the Padres' GM, over Daniels. “I remember [Daniels'] quick mind and intelligence and I thought he had a resilience about him,” Cherington told Speier.
  • The Blue Jays scouted at least eight of C.J. Wilson's starts this season, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun (on Twitter). The Jays could use starting pitching, as I explained earlier in the week, but their scouting trips may simply have been due diligence.
  • Kelly Johnson of the Blue Jays chatted with FanGraphs'  David Laurila about the challenge of changing leagues and the way he uses stats and video to improve his game.
  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that MLB isn't close to adding a slotting system for draft bonuses in the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. Executives doubt that Bud Selig would "dig in and fight" for slotting, since it could mean a prolonged dispute.

Rosenthal On CBA Talks

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has the latest on the talks between the players' union and owners as they aim to strike a new collective bargaining agreement…

  • It's a coin flip that an agreement will occur during the World Series, a source with knowledge of the discussions tells Rosenthal.  While that goal remains within reach, Rosenthal says the more important target date is the opening of free agency five days after the Series.  If no agreement is reached by then, it will create a new set of issues.  The World Series will end between October 23rd and 27th this year.
  • Rosenthal hears the players and owners remain far apart on the owners' request for hard slotting in the amateur draft, yet the gulf could narrow quickly.
  • The new deal is expected to include big changes for 2013: two 15-team leagues and a new one-game wild card round for the postseason.  The Astros' situation is fluid, hears Rosenthal.  They're the team most likely to move to the AL if new owner Jim Crane is approved.
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