The Next CBA (2027 and beyond)

[HalfSmokes]

Decertifying is always the league’s break glass in case of emergency move. No union means no salary cap and no reserve clause

[IanRubbish]

Just read that the minors still play regardless, except for guys on the 40-man.  The milb CBA goes to the end of '27.

[varoadking]

Just read that the minors still play regardless, except for guys on the 40-man.  The milb CBA goes to the end of '27.

Call 'em up!

[IanRubbish]

Talks between the league and the MLBPA have begun.  I'd take the over on more than 1/3rd of the '27 season being cancelled.  Trump and the Iranians will probably figure something out before the union and the owners do. 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-mlbpa-cba-negotiations-open-salary-cap-expansion-revenue-sharing/

[HalfSmokes]

Talks between the league and the MLBPA have begun.  I'd take the over on more than 1/3rd of the '27 season being cancelled.  Trump and the Iranians will probably figure something out before the union and the owners do. 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-mlbpa-cba-negotiations-open-salary-cap-expansion-revenue-sharing/

The teams won’t be able to agree with each other let alone with the players. This is looking a lot like 1994

[imref]

a look at how the new CBA could reshape the draft.

https://overslotbaseball.com/articles/mlb-draft-cba-negotiations/

[HalfSmokes]

If that happens it’s the end of academies. Why invest in development when another team can just take the kid in a draft. It also sucks for small towns with minor league teams

[imref]

Passan:

The MLBPA made its first proposal to MLB today in collective bargaining. Among the topline issues:

- A "competitive-integrity tax" for any team that does not spend $150M
- Increase minimum salary from $780,000 to $1.5M
- Increase in base CBT threshold from $244M to $300M
- Changes to the revenue-sharing system that would distribute more money from local television revenue but decrease the amount distributed from in-stadium revenue -- to incentivize teams that win and draw larger crowds
- Free agency for players who are 30 at 5+ years of service
- Teams that do not spend revenue-sharing dollars cannot collect money. Teams that receive revenue sharing and win receive bonuses.
- Pre-arb bonus pool increases from $50M to $180M
- Minimum tender in arbitration of $3M
- Arbitration super 2s jump from 22% of players to 44%

[HalfSmokes]

That’s a middle finger to the league

[varoadking]

I'll take "Proposals that are DOA" for $1,000, Alex...

[HalfSmokes]

I really want to see the MLB’s salary cap proposal. In every other sport, it’s a percentage of revenue, but including local TV revenue means that teams like the dodgers will have a laughably low salary compared to revenue and teams like Rays maybe under water

[imref]

Nightengale: "MLB proposes the first salary cap since August, 1994, at $245.3 million, with a salary floor of $171.2 million."

6 teams are currently above the cap. 15 are below the floor.

[Natsinpwc]

It will be interesting cause having a cap hurts the top tier of players but having a floor would help many more of the lower paid players. But they don’t drive the MLBPA

[imref]

MLB also proposing 50/50 revenue split, saying that the model would eliminate blackouts. All TV revenue would be shared.

Some additional info on the owner's proposal:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7315605/2026/05/28/mlb-hard-salary-cap-union-lockout/

the one positive I guess is that it doesn't seem like the gap between owners and players is insurmountable. Or, it's a bluff because there's no way the Dodgers are going to make a massive cut to payroll.

[imref]

MLBPA pretty much says NFW to the idea of a cap:

[imref]

Passan:
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48901348/2026-mlb-labor-cba-mlbpa-first-proposals-lockout-salary-cap-floor

[Count Walewski]

Sharing all TV revenue would pretty much solve the parity issue by itself.

[IanRubbish]

Unsurprisingly far apart, but some kind of salary floor is the one thing they both agree on.  Would have a big impact on how this franchise operates.

The union's emphasis on wealthier players shows the Boras influence.

[nfotiu]

Sharing all TV revenue would pretty much solve the parity issue by itself.

Every team but the Dodgers have to share 48% already, and every team but the Dodgers are seeing the same issue with declining subscribers.    Nationalizing local TV is the best path forward for the MLB and could help set the framework for this CBA.   Does it matter if the Dodgers vote no?

[varoadking]

A small portion of all CBT-penalty proceeds goes to funding player benefits. Half of the remaining amount funds retired-player pensions. The other half is redistributed by the commissioner's office to teams whose payroll did not exceed the base CBT threshold.

Redistributing half of all CBT Penalties to teams like like the Nats - what's wrong with this picture?  Basically rewarding the LAC for being LAC...

[Lintyfresh85]

So what do y'all plan to do with your summer next year... Cause they sure as heck aren't playing baseball next year. I imagine it'll take at least a full year to break the players on a salary cap.

[Natsinpwc]

It will be settled in April next year.  Too much money to leave on the table for both sides.  And a salary floor helps so many players.

[HalfSmokes]

I wonder if they really do have but in for the level of revenue sharing that would be necessary to make a floor work.

[imref]

Passan:

MLB today proposed an overhauled domestic amateur-entry system that removes high school players from the draft, makes college players eligible after sophomore year, shortens the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, and cuts bonus pool from current $358.7M to $200M, sources tell ESPN.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

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.