Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Leagues and Governing Bodies

MLB, MLBPA Optimistic New CBA Can Be Reached Before Looming Thursday Deadline

On the eve of MLBPA meetings that begin today in Irving, Texas, the negotiating arms of MLB owners and the union met yesterday in Dallas, a meeting that some believe could have a new CBA "in place by Thursday, when the current CBA expires," according to George King III of the N.Y. POST (11/28). ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported CBA negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA last week "progressed" to the point where sources "finally are expressing optimism that an agreement can be reached before owners impose a lockout." Sources said they now sense there is a "path to a deal." Owners and the union have been "hung up for weeks over several major issues, most notably an international draft, the elimination of draft-pick compensation for teams that sign free agents and a new luxury tax/revenue-sharing formula" (ESPN.com, 11/24). ESPN.com's Buster Olney cited sources as saying that MLB has been "incredibly frustrated by the slow negotiation pace" of MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark and his team, and that the union "isn't haggling with intent over issues that MLB wants -- an international draft in particular." But Olney noted "cooler heads will prevail" (ESPN.com, 11/23). In Boston, Nick Cafardo noted the MLBPA can "point to a few issues it feels restrict earning potential -- draft pick compensation in free agency, draft pool signing limitations, the possibility of an international draft." However, owners "feel these limits are necessary to keep costs down and stay under MLB’s luxury tax threshold." While CBA negotiations "continue, the player movement market may be slow." The luxury tax threshold is "definitely an issue for the big-market teams" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/27).

INTERNATIONAL MEN OF MYSTERY: USA TODAY's Jorge Ortiz wonders how hard each side is "willing to fight for -- or to prevent -- an international draft." The "incentive for the owners is obvious: Much the way they limit competition for American (and Puerto Rican) talent with the amateur draft, they’d like to do the same with international players." The owners "now insist on a draft to protect them from themselves." However, the MLBPA "rightfully sees agreeing to an international draft as a major concession." The union’s "top bargaining chip is holding out against an international draft" (USA TODAY, 11/25). CBSSPORTS.com's Mike Axisa wrote there is "concern an international draft may push top international free agents to other sports ... because their earning potential as baseball players will take a hit." Losing the best athletes the world has to offer "would unquestionably be bad for baseball in the long-term" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/26). In Chicago, Barry Rozner wrote this is "hardly the time" for the sides to "jeopardize 21 years of labor peace." Rozner: "Baseball has never been healthier and never been more the center of the sports universe" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/27).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/11/28/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/MLB-CBA.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/11/28/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/MLB-CBA.aspx

CLOSE