The Next CBA (2027 and beyond)

[imref]

essentially MLB is offloading its lower minor league levels to JUCOs. I imagine this would mean more kids doing what Harper did and trying to graduate early to get to the MLB faster. I wonder if A & A+ levels could survive with this kind of arrangement.

[HalfSmokes]

NCAA would love this in terms of extra talent entering, but what's this  due for kids  that never want to touch a book after high school?  Also, does this make juco more attractive?

I could see the MLBPA saying something like "if you add that saved money back to MLB minimum, we could live with this.

It’s the same as one and done for basketball, they pretend to be students for a year. This seems like it would decimate the low minors if teams had half the number of draftees to place every year

[HalfSmokes]

essentially MLB is offloading its lower minor league levels to JUCOs. I imagine this would mean more kids doing what Harper did and trying to graduate early to get to the MLB faster. I wonder if A & A+ levels could survive with this kind of arrangement.

I always love going to A ball games when we go on vacation, some of those teams seems like they have decent fan bases too

[Natsinpwc]

NCAA would love this in terms of extra talent entering, but what's this  due for kids  that never want to touch a book after high school?  Also, does this make juco more attractive?

I could see the MLBPA saying something like "if you add that saved money back to MLB minimum, we could live with this.

They don’t have to touch a book. You think the football and basketball kids do?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It’s the same as one and done for basketball, they pretend to be students for a year. This seems like it would decimate the low minors if teams had half the number of draftees to place every year

I think jucos are a more viable route in baseball than the other sports. With 2 years to draft, I could see a boon for jucos.

[HalfSmokes]

I think jucos are a more viable route in baseball than the other sports. With 2 years to draft, I could see a boon for jucos.

Probably. At the 4 year level, it’s a large roster men’s sports that is primarily non-revenue. Not a great to be right now

[varoadking]

I don't think this happens...no basis for that other than a gut feeling...

I also wonder how would this impact international signings...do they have to wait until they are 20-ish as well?

[imref]

I think jucos are a more viable route in baseball than the other sports. With 2 years to draft, I could see a boon for jucos.

Passan did note that those attending a 4-year school would be draft-eligible after sophomore year, so it could undercut the JUCO's

[Count Walewski]

This is being paired with an international draft, which I think most objective observers think is a good idea. A lot of shady things happen right now when MLB teams go recruiting in Latin America and the calls to do something are growing.

Banning prep players from the draft is a wicked move that is obviously just about further gutting the minor leagues. But the people screwed by this (absolutely phenomenal prospects who can make MLB at age 19 who are now hitting MLB free agency in their late 20's and not their mid 20's) are a relatively small part of the union so I could see this being agreed to.

[IanRubbish]

Wtf are the owners thinking?  The union will never go for anything like this.

These fools are going to let soccer takeover. 

[HalfSmokes]

Wtf are the owners thinking?  The union will never go for anything like this.

These fools are going to let soccer takeover. 

Soccer has been poised to take over for 50 years now. I’m pretty sure the WNBA is ahead of MLS in ratings

[imref]

During today's chat, Longenhagen talked about the idea of banning high schoolers from the draft:

I think it's a naked attempt to prevent there from being Machado/Harper/Soto type contracts and they're gonna use the fact that our culture cares about college sports as a magician's assistant. Can you imagine not having phenom Trout or Griffey? Or Adrian Beltre's career being altered? I feel like those things are too important to the relevance of our game to scrub away.

[HalfSmokes]

During today's chat, Longenhagen talked about the idea of banning high schoolers from the draft:

Let’s say they go forward and cut the number of players entering the league as well as eliminating 18 and 19 year olds and decimate A ball and below. At what point do they pull out of enough states for Congress to turn on them?

[imref]

Let’s say they go forward and cut the number of players entering the league as well as eliminating 18 and 19 year olds and decimate A ball and below. At what point do they pull out of enough states for Congress to turn on them?

The damage to the minors could be offset by growth in interest in college ball though. Imagine guys like Willits, Holliday, and Clark in college right now.

[blue911]

The damage to the minors could be offset by growth in interest in college ball though. Imagine guys like Willits, Holliday, and Clark in college right now.

Nobody would care outside of the school’s alumni.

[varoadking]

The damage to the minors could be offset by growth in interest in college ball though. Imagine guys like Willits, Holliday, and Clark in college right now.

I wouldn't go to a college baseball game for free...much less if I had to pay to see it.  I won't even watch it on TV...women's softball is better entertainment.

Of course...MiLB does nothing for me either...so there's that as well...

[Natsinpwc]

I wouldn't go to a college baseball game for free...much less if I had to pay to see it.  I won't even watch it on TV...women's softball is better entertainment.

Of course...MiLB does nothing for me either...so there's that as well...

I've been to a few Vandy games in Nashville,  Was fun.  But I even watch sumo.

[HalfSmokes]

I wouldn't go to a college baseball game for free...much less if I had to pay to see it.  I won't even watch it on TV...women's softball is better entertainment.

Of course...MiLB does nothing for me either...so there's that as well...

I love MiLB games. A great seat and a few bear watching mediocre baseball is a great was to spend a summer night.

[imref]

Nobody would care outside of the school’s alumni.

I watched the CBWS a few years ago when LSU won. Those games were fun.

[IanRubbish]

During today's chat, Longenhagen talked about the idea of banning high schoolers from the draft:

The impact on big contracts makes sense.  The owners primary target here is Boras, who more or less runs the union.  They're probably thinking they'll be ok if they only lose the first half of '27, but still have a WS.  Don't agree with them, but the draft and minors are areas they've had some success reducing his influence. 

[varoadking]

I've been to a few Vandy games in Nashville,  Was fun.  But I even watch sumo.

I dig Sumo...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The impact on big contracts makes sense.  The owners primary target here is Boras, who more or less runs the union.  They're probably thinking they'll be ok if they only lose the first half of '27, but still have a WS.  Don't agree with them, but the draft and minors are areas they've had some success reducing his influence. 

With the NBA and NHL running playoffs until mid-June, there's room for other sports. Marathoning!

[imref]

Per Jesse Rogers (Chicago MLB reporter):

BREAKING: In its next CBA, the league is proposing a max contract length of 5 yrs for free agent players switching teams, 6 years to retain their own players. No deferred contracts. Qualifying offer is gone too. Also, 5 years to free agency for players 30 or older.

Good luck with that one.

[imref]

In addition to the above, owners say they have proposed a $1M minimum salary for players with at least 2 years of service, or 0 & 1 year who accrue a full year of service.

They are also proposing that teams would be able to resign their own players for more money than FAs (similar to the Bird Rights in the NBA).

MLBPA's response:

"After making a series of proposals to reduce player compensation by billions of dollars, eliminate fundamental rights with a salary cap, and destroy the amateur entry process, Major League Baseball and team owners are now attempting to distract from the true impact their plan would have on baseball. These misleading offers are designed to look like ‘improvements’ but are of little or no value, given they are expressly conditioned on agreement to the league’s cap system which eliminates the free market, and ensures gains for one player only come at the expense of another.

The league also introduced a litany of additional restrictions on player rights – limiting salaries, contract length, performance, award, and signing bonuses. While MLB claims to be acting in the interest of fans, their proposals thus far are entirely consistent with owners’ long-held goals: suppressing player salaries and maximizing club profits.

Owners’ attempts to pit players against players are nothing new, but they've failed in the past and will fail again now, because PA members remain unified. We are committed to achieving a fair deal that protects the rights of all players, promotes competition, and leaves our game better for future generations."

[wj73]

I love MiLB games. A great seat and a few bear watching mediocre baseball is a great was to spend a summer night.

Agree 100%. Minor league ball is great. I have very little interest in going to a college game - a totally different atmosphere.
This proposal seems to want to offload development of young players to colleges, eventually eliminating the lower minor league teams. Lots of these minor league teams have enthusiastic fans, and provide a unifying force in smaller towns and cities. I don’t see a lot of those fans going to college games, either.