The MLBPA's dissatisfaction with the league's qualifying-offer system "looms as one of the most substantive -- and potentially divisive -- issues in the upcoming CBA talks," according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSPORTS.com. Ian Desmond, Dexter Fowler and Yovani Gallardo are the "last remaining free agents who rejected qualifying offers in November -- meaning teams must surrender a draft pick in order to sign them." It is "undeniable that draft-pick compensation has depressed the values for several free agents this offseason." What is "impossible to know for certain is whether the rules have reduced overall industry spending." MLB's "longstanding practice of compensating on seniority and accomplishment has been upended by analytically minded front offices, who value draft picks greatly and are wary of long-term investments in position players beyond age 30." The sides "must agree on a solution, lest the proceedings become unnecessarily tense" (FOXSPORTS.com, 2/2).
TAKING PRECAUTION: ESPN.com's Buster Olney cites sources as saying that the question of whether some teams are tanking "was raised at the most recent owners meetings." The January discussion "was not formal, and there haven't been any official steps taken toward exploring the question of whether teams are endeavoring to lose." But some teams have "expressed concern about a strategy that is drawing more and more attention among baseball operations officials." Another reason for the discussion at the owners' meetings was to "bring up to speed anyone who wasn't aware of the conversation about the perceived tactic within the sport" (ESPN.com, 2/2).
