The negotiations between the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) continue as both parties seek the very best deal for their respective employees. Progress seemed to be moving forward in late January. The MLBPA rejected MLB’s initial proposals despite offers of increased pay for players with two or more years of service time, and the MLB quickly created a second proposal that was crafted using the MLBPA’s framework.
Under the new proposal, the MLB would create a bonus pool, centrally funded, for the best of their pre-arbitration players. This would reward those players with as much as four times their base salary via awards and performance, a source discloses, and the league also agreed to an increase to players’ minimum salary. The latter ensures that young players receive more pay before they are eligible for arbitration.
The plan would have boosted Corbin Burnes, the National League CY Young winner, last season’s salary from $608,000 to $2.34m. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the runner-up for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award, would have had a salary increase from $635,400 to $1.843m. Other players would have also received a boost, but these are two of the most notable. Some pre-arbitration players would have had salary increases of more than 200%.
The proposals also included an increase in minimum salaries, an increase in CBT threshold, and early-career bonus access. Clubs would earn draft picks when top prospects receive a full year of service during their rookie season and the subsequent award recognition that follows. The proposed postseason plan would also add $20m to players’ postseason shares, including 60% of the new first round’s gate receipts from the postseason.
Current negotiations, however, do not seem to echo this progress. The MLBPA and MLB are reportedly deadlocked as days tick by with no agreement.
