With the relationship between MLB and the MLB Players ******* ociation already tense, the league is continuing to make suggestions that the union is not happy about. On Thursday, MLB reportedly proposed drastic changes to the offseason, including a shortened free agency window, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Thursday.
Under the proposal, per Passan, the free agency window would open the Monday after the Winter Meetings in early December, and would close Dec. 21. No free agency signings or trades would be allowed until the first Monday in February, at which they would be allowed to resume.
The period would be preceded by a "dead period" where players can negotiate with players, but not sign — similar to the NFL's "legal tampering" period.
The somewhat radical proposal would slash the amount of time that players could sign in the offseason, making it much more difficult for players to leverage deals between teams, meaning that money is left on the table.
Additionally, the shortened offseason period relates to the contentious issue of the proposed salary cap, something that MLB has been heavily pushing for in the new collective bargaining agreement while the union has strongly pushed back.

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