As we speak, major league negotiations are progressing well. We feel that the word “compromise” exists and the MLB is particularly ready to make it.
Whether the MLBPA will follow suit remains to be seen.
Update: negotiations for a new employment contract are progressing
Hit or miss.
But still: that does not mean that a contract will be signed tonight. That still remains to be seen, in fact.
It will depend on the next hours since midnight is not a fixed limit.
MLB and the MLBPA are “right on the thin line” between agreement and more time after movement has been made in talks.
“Are the players going to bite on that? Or are they going to see if we can get more out of them?”
➡️ @GEICO pic.twitter.com/Nox5OwJX5D
—SNY (@SNYtv) March 9, 2022
The big issue at the moment, in fact, is the international draft. Remember that players who do not come from Canada, the United States or Puerto Rico are not eligible for the draft and sign as a free agent.
The MLB wants to institute a draft for all while the MLBPA, of course, does not want to.
International Draft now a major question, source tells me and @ShiDavidi. MLBPA believed to be in touch with Latin players to help determine next steps here. MLB seeks int’l draft but players have opposed in past.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) March 9, 2022
What MLB is trying to do is negotiate the withdrawal of qualifying offers against an international draft.
I have the feeling that after agreeing to give in on economic issues and agreeing to keep the playoffs at 12 teams, MLB will not want to give in on that.
Sources describe the international draft as the biggest issue with owners pushing hard for it at the moment.
Owners are tying qualifying offers to int’l draft. Players really want to get rid of QO system, which they see as a major drag on free agency. Perhaps $100M+ per year.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) March 9, 2022
This will be the subject of negotiations for the next few hours, I believe. We risk knowing in several hours whether there will be an agreement or not.
We will certainly rejase tomorrow.
