*Photo from Forbes*
The news that we have been looking for is finally here. On day 99 of the lockout, the MLBPA has agreed to accept MLB's proposal for a new CBA. Baseball is finally back. The deal will be ratified by both sides, officially lifting the lockout. ESPN's Jeff Passan was first with the news.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, MLB's proposal, issued Thursday afternoon, had a luxury tax threshold that started at $230 million this season, going up to $244 million on the 5th year of the deal. The pre arbitration pool is set for $50 million. Minimum salaries start at $700,000, and end out at $780,000.
The biggest point of contention in the last few days of negotiating was the issue of the international draft that MLB had long been pining for. Baseball's Latin players had voiced strong opposition to the draft, and that issue has been kicked down the road, with the sides to negotiate on that issue until July 25, the deadline set by MLB. It is tied to the qualifying offer system, so if the draft is implemented, the qualifying offer and draft pick compensation goes away. If not, the QO stays.
After MLB delivered the proposal to the MLBPA, the executive board seemingly was ready to vote it down. Then, all the votes came in from the teams, delivered by each team's player representative to the MLBPA. That's what passed the proposal, with the MLBPA vote going 26-12 in favor of the proposal.
With the proposal being accepted by the MLBPA, players can report to their teams spring training facilities as soon as Friday. Players must report by Sunday. They will have just under a month in spring camps, as opening day is set for April 7. Games that were previously cancelled by MLB will be made up in doubleheader form, with the end of the regular season being pushed back a couple of days. The season will be 162 games, and players will be paid full salary.
This also re-opens free agency. Transactions can re-start immediately upon ratification of the CBA, so free agent signings and trades can happen immediately. Expect a surge of signings between now and Sunday, as players will be looking to find a home immediately. The 7 inning doubleheaders and runner on second base in extra innings formats will be going away in the new CBA.
So, on day 99 of the lockout, we finally got the news we were hoping for. Baseball is finally back, and the season will go on. Play ball everyone.
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