The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between MLB owners and the MLB Players ***** ociation will expire on Dec. 1, 2026. Barring an unlikely agreement before that time, a lockout will commence thereafter.
The two sides are a gulf apart, with current concerns ranging from the implementation of a salary cap system and contract duration limits — which the owners desire, but many of the players view as an attempt to limit their earning potential — to how teams will spend the money they receive from revenue sharing; players want to ensure more of the funds, ostensibly earmarked for competitive balance purposes, land in their pockets.
The MLBPA released a statement on Thursday, June 25 criticising the league's first proposal as designed to drive a rift between the players themselves with inconsequential sweeteners… and maintaining that the players are united as they work toward a new agreement.
Catcher Henry Davis, who serves as the Pirates' MLBPA representative, described the union's perspective, saying that the proposals the league puts forward (and the concessions offered) will change as the deadline comes closer.
"I think it's frustrating, but not surprising, given most of MLB's tactics generally work off the deadline. They're making offers that — I think — they know exactly how we'll interpret them," Davis said. "And I think the unifying thing is because at times, they'll try to divide certain sects of players: free agents versus pre-arb, et cetera. But everybody couldn't be more unified."
The two sides are a gulf apart, with current concerns ranging from the implementation of a salary cap system and contract duration limits — which the owners desire, but many of the players view as an attempt to limit their earning potential — to how teams will spend the money they receive from revenue sharing; players want to ensure more of the funds, ostensibly earmarked for competitive balance purposes, land in their pockets.
The MLBPA released a statement on Thursday, June 25 criticising the league's first proposal as designed to drive a rift between the players themselves with inconsequential sweeteners… and maintaining that the players are united as they work toward a new agreement.
Catcher Henry Davis, who serves as the Pirates' MLBPA representative, described the union's perspective, saying that the proposals the league puts forward (and the concessions offered) will change as the deadline comes closer.
"I think it's frustrating, but not surprising, given most of MLB's tactics generally work off the deadline. They're making offers that — I think — they know exactly how we'll interpret them," Davis said. "And I think the unifying thing is because at times, they'll try to divide certain sects of players: free agents versus pre-arb, et cetera. But everybody couldn't be more unified."
3 months ago
