Negotiations between MLB and the Players Association reach a crucial point: the deadline set by the league to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is Monday.
The league told players that if they don’t reach an agreement by that day, the MLB season likely won’t start on time and lost games won’t be recovered.
It certainly puts some pressure on the players’ side to negotiate a pact before Monday, but they’re not about to rush things and then feel bad for the deal they’ve been approving for four years.
They will make sure to get the best deal possible.
During sessions this week, the league proposed a slight increase in the minimum wage, while the Players Association lowered the proposed number of lottery draft picks from eight to seven.
However, both sides continue to ignore a very important element in the conversations: the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT).
ESPN insider Jeff Passan tweeted about it recently: “Today was the third straight day of trading, and neither the league nor the union made a proposal on the Competitive Balance Tax. , which is vital because it will almost certainly determine if the opening day is March 31st.
THREAD: I would like to talk about CBT. Today was the third day in a row of negotiations, and neither the league nor the union made a proposal on the competitive balance tax, which is essential because it will almost certainly determine whether the opening day is the 31st March.
—Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 24, 2022
No one wants to talk about the competitive balance tax
The CBT threshold, which was $210 million in 2021, is a sensitive topic.
The players want it to be much higher, but the owners don’t want it because then teams can spend more money on player contracts.
Penalties for teams exceeding the threshold are also a contentious topic in the talks.
By Passan, both parties are waiting for the other to take a “big step”.
The reporter explains the implications of CBT and the position of both parties in a must-read thread.
Basically, players want teams to spend more and owners want the league to have a cap and punish those who go over it with big bucks.
This is something both sides will need to discuss thoroughly this week.
But they choose to continue to ignore it.
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