New CBA

[Benjamin Grimm]

The owners and players are set to announce a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Tuesday of next week.

It will run through 2016, which will mean 21 years without a work stoppage in baseball. There's something they can be legitimately proud of, especially as the NBA seems to be going down the tubes right now.

There will be blood testing for HGH, and some rather complex rules for slotting of draft picks. There will be a luxury tax if you overspend on draft picks, but there are exceptions (I think) for early rounds, and the penalties are higher for teams that don't get the early round picks.

The most interesting wrinkle to me is the one about compensation for Type A free agents. Previously you had to offer arbitration to the player in order to qualify for the compensation pick. Now, you'll have to offer a guaranteed contract for at least one year, $12 million.

[Frayed Knot]

My comments ...

* 5 years -- decent length. I think the NFL players were nuts to lock themselves into a decade long deal

* raise in min salary, eventually up to a half-mil -- fine, whatever

* Blood test for HGH, possibly as soon as spring 2012 with similar penalties to steroid use -- not that I'm against this, but it does surprise me that it was agreed to and count me as one who's skeptical both of the accuracy of such tests and on whether HGH is even performance enhancing. Hell, even the NFL players are slow-tracking their agreement to this and they're reluctant to rock the boat on anything.

* a Luxury Tax for the 1st year player draft -- Not specific hard-slotting for each pick, but some sort of overall limit on the cumulative money spent on one year's haul. Go over it and there's a penalty tax, although it seems to me there'll have to be some kind of complex sliding scale based on where your picks fall in any given year rather than some one-size-fits-all number.

* changes in draft compensation -- details not out yet, but it's most likely going to start with next year's FAs (affecting the 2013 draft) and will involve altering the formula used to determine type A & B FAs (relievers, for example, are far over-valued under the current formulas used), shrinking the pct of players who can reach those thresholds, and lessening the compensation due to a team losing a FA

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The owners and players are set to announce a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Tuesday of next week. It will run through 2016, which will mean 21 years without a work stoppage in baseball. There's something they can be legitimately proud of, especially as the NBA seems to be going down the tubes right now. There will be blood testing for HGH, and some rather complex rules for slotting of draft picks. There will be a luxury tax if you overspend on draft picks, but there are exceptions (I think) for early rounds, and the penalties are higher for teams that don't get the early round picks. The most interesting wrinkle to me is the one about compensation for Type A free agents. Previously you had to offer arbitration to the player in order to qualify for the compensation pick. Now, you'll have to offer a guaranteed contract for at least one year, $12 million.

Some 'grandfathering' here supposedly, with the compensation. But basically eliminates the middle relievers giving anyone draft picks. Carlos Beltran may not have gotten the Mets a draft pick this year anyway under these rules. And unfortunately, I think it means the Phillies do not have to give up a draft pick for Papelbon.

[Edgy MD]

I'm going to say boo on the luxury tax thingie.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: I'm going to say boo on the luxury tax thingie.

I'm gonna hold off for specific details before I boo or yay or eh it. (unless you were hoping for a hard cap or something) seems the details are still fuzzy on how much, etc.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd bet $10,000 that Edgy wasn't looking for a hard cap.

[Edgy MD]

I'll hold out to see if anyone takes up that bet before clarifying.

[Ceetar]

didn't think he was. But the other details still seem fuzzy and i'm not sure how much of a difference it's really going to make.

I know _I_ wanted a hard cap.

err, hard slot not hard cap.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy DC wrote: I'm going to say boo on the luxury tax thingie.

Yeah, but if it helps to scuttle the current system where Bud and his henchmen claim the last right of approval for each contract that's a penny over the "suggested" figure and hold up the announcement of every deal until an hour before the deadline because they don't want the handful of 'over-slot' deals to leak out early lest the remaining deals use those as a comparison it'll be an improvement.

There was also talk of moving up the signing deadline to mid-July (currently mid-August) so as to get these guys signed while there's still some season left. The extra month just goes to waste anyway.

[Edgy MD]

In the end, it's swapping one unethical system for another. I notice they never put a cap on ticket prices

[Benjamin Grimm]

Some more details, courtesy of the Associated Press:

Minimum Salary

The minimum salary reaches the $500,000 mark in 2014, and then there will be cost-of-living increases in both of the following two years.

Amateur Draft

There will also be a new "competitive balance lottery'' that gives small-market teams extra selections in the amateur draft.

Owners achieved their goal of reining in spending on amateur players coming to the major leagues. For high school and college players taken in the June amateur draft, there will be five bands of penalties, starting with a 75 percent tax on the amount 0-5 percent over a specified threshold for each team next year, based on its selection spot. For teams going 5-10 percent over, the tax will rise to 100 percent and they will lose their next first-round draft pick. If a team goes more than 15 percent over, it could lose its following two first-round draft picks. For players taken in the 11th round and beyond, teams may give them signing bonuses up to $100,000 without it counting against the new threshold. For international amateur signings from nations such as the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, a luxury tax will begin with the July 2012-June 2013 signing season.

Free Agent Compensation

Major league free agent compensation will be completely revised in 2013, with a team having to offer its former players who became free agents the average of the top 125 contracts - currently about $12 million - to receive draft-pick compensation if a player signs with a new team. It eliminates the statistical formula that had been in place since the 1981 strike settlement.

Arbitration

In addition, the portion of players with 2-3 years of major league service who are eligible for salary arbitration will rise from 17 percent to 22 percent starting in 2013.

Revenue Sharing

And there a new market disqualification test, preventing teams from large markets from receiving revenue-sharing proceeds - and lowering the amount the big teams pay as long as they stay under the payroll threshold.

[Edgy MD]

The players are bargaining with the rights of the now-amateurs that will come after them. Not cool.

[Benjamin Grimm]

USA Today adds this:

Instant replay also will be expanded, subject to negotiations between MLB and the umpires' union, to include fair/foul and trapped/caught balls.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: The players are bargaining with the rights of the now-amateurs that will come after them. Not cool.

NFL did this too right? and NBA talking about it?

[Edgy MD]

I guess so. I would know little about that. I only know it's not cool. But I think the entire draft system is lousy.

[Frayed Knot]

Ceetar wrote: Edgy DC wrote: The players are bargaining with the rights of the now-amateurs that will come after them. Not cool. NFL did this too right? and NBA talking about it?

Both the NFL & the NBA players associations long ago agreed to restrictions on incoming rookies - both in the amount of money they're limited to and also the timing of when they can even enter the process.
Occasionally some amateur tries to sue their way around those seemingly illegal restrictions but the ruling have said that because the limits were agreed to as part of a collective bargaining process they can be legally enforced.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: USA Today adds this: Instant replay also will be expanded, subject to negotiations between MLB and the umpires' union, to include fair/foul and trapped/caught balls.

I'm very (Tim) leery of this.

[HahnSolo]

I'm OK with fair/foul replays. For the most part, we can get a replay that is pretty definitive (OK maybe not when the ball travels OVER the pole, but most of the time).

Catches/traps are a bit tougher. I swear there are some replays I see where one angle looks definitely like a catch and another it appears to be a trapped ball. Also what about the balls that hit the glove and bounce up, giving it the appearance of being a trap. I say nay on the catch/trap replay.

[Ceetar]

HahnSolo wrote: I'm OK with fair/foul replays. For the most part, we can get a replay that is pretty definitive (OK maybe not when the ball travels OVER the pole, but most of the time). Catches/traps are a bit tougher. I swear there are some replays I see where one angle looks definitely like a catch and another it appears to be a trapped ball. Also what about the balls that hit the glove and bounce up, giving it the appearance of being a trap. I say nay on the catch/trap replay.

Balls that hit the glove and bounce up are most likely to be called a trap by the naked eye and more easily overturned via replay.

[Frayed Knot]

And when a call is reversed after the batter, the base-runners, and fielders have all made decisions (good or bad) based on that original live-ball call ... then what?

[Guest sharpie]

Also this:

All-Star Game
Players will be required to play in the All-Star Game if selected, unless one has an injury or is otherwise excused by the Commissioner's Office.

[HahnSolo]

sharpie wrote: Also this: All-Star Game Players will be required to play in the All-Star Game if selected, unless one has an injury or is otherwise excused by the Commissioner's Office.

Or they're a Yankee.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Some 'grandfathering' here supposedly, with the compensation. But basically eliminates the middle relievers giving anyone draft picks. Carlos Beltran may not have gotten the Mets a draft pick this year anyway under these rules. And unfortunately, I think it means the Phillies do not have to give up a draft pick for Papelbon.

Actually... the new rules are supposedly not retroactive, meaning:

A) The Phils have to give up their first-rounder to Boston

The as-yet unsigned Ryan Madson will bring back compensation, but not old-style Type A first-plus-supplemental compensation.

So, one tiny hidden benefit for non-Philadelphian NLkind.

[Gwreck]

I found this nugget very interesting:

"Active Roster limits will be expanded to 26 for certain regular or split doubleheaders."

[Gwreck]

A comprehensive summary can be found here (PDF):

Link

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: I'm going to say boo on the luxury tax thingie.

Not only is it unethical, but-- as the "Bonus Pool" formulation is a de facto slotting system-- it kinda puts another dagger in small-market gamblin'-type organizations, doesn't it?

[Benjamin Grimm]

The parties agreed that no new players will be permitted to use a low density maple bat during the term of the agreement.

Hmmm... I wonder what prompted this?

By 2013, all Major League players will wear a new batting helmet developed by Rawlings that protects against pitches thrown at 100 miles per hour. The new version of the helmet is significantly less �bulky� than prior versions of the more protective helmet.

Also interesting. I wonder if it will be at all Gazoo-like?

The concussion policy that was implemented prior to the 2011 season has been improved and will remain in effect for the duration of the Basic Agreement.

Improved in what way?

Players, managers, and coaches will be prohibited from using smokeless tobacco during televised interviews and Club appearances. In addition, at any time when fans are permitted in the ballpark, players, managers and coaches must conceal tobacco products (including packages and tins), and may not carry tobacco products in their uniforms or on their bodies. Individuals who violate the policy will be subject to discipline. The parties also agreed upon an extensive program of education and public outreach regarding the dangers of smokeless tobacco.

I guess this is a good idea.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Can they still smoke in the dugout?

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The parties agreed that no new players will be permitted to use a low density maple bat during the term of the agreement. Hmmm... I wonder what prompted this?

Those are the bats that are more given to dramatically shattering.
The traditional ash bats when they break tend to chip; maple ones tend to explode.

Probably they're afraid of decapitating a few pitchers.

[Ceetar]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I'm going to say boo on the luxury tax thingie. Not only is it unethical, but-- as the "Bonus Pool" formulation is a de facto slotting system-- it kinda puts another dagger in small-market gamblin'-type organizations, doesn't it?

except small-market teams get extra picks, plus over-slot is still clearly possible, but you have to be smarter with it. Can't just willy nilly throw money at everyone. So benefits the small market in a way. Draftees will also be bidding against each other. The faster you sign, the more is available in the pool to give you. On the o ther hand, if you wait it out, maybe a higher pick opts for college, opening up all that extra money for you.

26 man rosters for doubleheaders, changes to the 4th option/outrighting rules, more replay. lots of interesting stuff.

No new Maple bats, although Mariano Rivera will be grandfathered in, and screw you for judging him.