The Major League Baseball Players’ Association withdrew its more limited salary arbitration plan on Tuesday, a day after the Major League Baseball Players’ Association withdrew its request for free agent eligibility.
In the second straight day of talks aimed at reaching an agreement to end the shutdown that began Dec. 2, clubs also approved an MLBPA framework to funnel additional funds to players eligible for pre-arbitration. Central Revenue, offering $10 million based on awards and war. The MLBPA requested $105 million for the group, typically about 30 players per year.
Additionally, management has increased its offer to raise the minimum salary for players with less than one year of Major League service from $600,000 to $615,000, but with savings teams can’t pay more. than this amount. Players bid a minimum of $775,000 next year, up from $570,500 previously.
The administration also withdrew its proposal that would have separated pensions from inflation, which under the current plan would result in automatic increases.
Details of the nearly hour-long negotiating session were revealed by two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity as no public statement was made.
With the two sides not even discussing central economic issues for six weeks before talks resumed on January 13, incremental progress over two days has been positive as the bickering sides attempt to end the ninth and first hiatus from baseball since 1995.
However, time is running out before the scheduled start of spring training on February 16. Opening day March 31 will be in jeopardy if there is no deal by the end of next month.
Both sides agreed to continue negotiations on non-core issues while the MLBPA discusses its next step on broader economic components.
Teams first suggested waiving arbitration for all players and earlier this month outlined the plan to get rid of a so-called ‘Super 2’, 22% of eligible players with at least two major league seasons serving but less than three.
The players want to increase arbitration eligibility for all players who have had two years of service in the Major League, its level from 1974 to 1986. They also want to reduce revenue sharing from what the MLBPA estimates to be 30 million dollars per year, which, if reached, would likely increase. spending by major market shifts.
The clubs say they will not consider making any officiating changes or adjustments that would reduce revenue sharing, and they oppose the MLBPA’s revenue-sharing expectations.
Players want to create new structures to deal with the alleged manipulation of service time and increased roster disruption in recent seasons by rebuilding squads. Teams suggested that any players called up in August or September who remained eligible to win the player of the year award the following season should count for additional amateur caps as part of their plan to deal with time on duty.
Represented by Deputy Commissioner Dan Halim, Executive Vice President Morgan Sord, Senior Vice President Patrick Houlihan and Vice President Reed McPhail Clubs.
MLBPA Senior Director of Collective Bargaining and Legal Bruce Meyer led the players’ delegation that also included General Counsel Ian Penny and Assistant General Counsel Matt Nussbaum. While Tuesday’s encounter was restricted to a small group, 25-30 players joined by Zoom on Wednesday.
Absentee Andrew Miller and Colorado Rockies CEO Dick Monfort were at Monday’s hearing but were not in attendance Tuesday.