Major League Baseball has reached a new collective bargaining agreement, ending the lockout that has been ongoing for the last three months.
Multiple sources have reported that a provisional deal has been made between the MLB Players Association and Major League Baseball in regards to players’ labor. As the lockout reached nearly 100 days, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that opening day would be pushed back until the two organizations could make an agreement.
With opening day and the possibility of canceling multiple regular-season games, it was clear a new CBA was needed.
According to the MLB website, the new contract, “includes increased minimum salaries, a new pre-arbitration bonus pool to reward the top young players in the game, a raise in competitive balance tax thresholds, the introduction of a universal designated hitter, the widest-ranging Draft lottery in pro sports, a system to prevent alleged service-time manipulation and limits on the number of times a player can be optioned in a season to address concerns regarding ‘roster churn.’”
As the second-longest lockout in the history of the league, players will see a 23% increase in starting salaries with a guaranteed $700,000 as a minimum. In addition, spring training is expected to resume as normal and Major league Baseball teams are expected to play a full 162-game season.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred discusses drafting new deal with Tony Clark
The deal is derived from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA director Tony Clark working together to come to an agreement that promotes a positive outlook on the future of baseball.
“Our union endured the second-longest work stoppage in its history to achieve significant progress in key areas that will improve not just current players’ rights and benefits, but those of generations to come,” Clark shared in a statement, according to ESPN. “Players remain engaged and unified from beginning to end, and in the process reenergized in our fraternity.”
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In a news conference at MLB headquarters, Manfred acknowledged that he fell short of his position as baseball’s commissioner. “One of the things that I’m supposed to do is promote a good relationship with our players. I’ve tried to do that. I think that I have not been successful in that,” he admitted.
Although an official deal is pending, fans and players alike can sleep easier at night knowing that baseball will be making a speedy return. Manfred also revealed that what pushed him to make sure a new deal is drafted was the thought of disappointing fans.
“I have a great job, but one of the negative parts of it is when you have a situation like this, where you’re depriving the fans of the game,” he said. “I feel a great weight from that. When we learned that they ratified, I felt that weight came off my shoulders.”
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