MLB News: League Proposes Massive Changes to Current Arbitration and Service Time System
The Player’s Association and MLB have a lot of work to do over the next couple of months. Aside from the rigors of getting through a season, they also have to deal with the construction of a new collective bargaining agreement that will dictate the state of baseball for the next couple of years.
With that in mind, MLB has already been working on parts of the deal along with the Player’s Association. The most recent report is that the league is proposing sweeping changes to the current service time and arbitration system.
The proposed change would do away with the current arbitration system and make players free agent eligible at 29.5 years old. MLB also added in a $1 billion pool that would be dispersed to replace the current arb system, though it’s unclear how that would happen.
MLB Related: Analyst Compares Dodgers to Warriors Dynasty
The offer from MLB is an effort to combat what players felt like were service time manipulations happening across the league. It would discourage teams from keeping players in the minor leagues to better fit their championship window despite being ready to go. The current system requires players to qualify for free agency at the end of the season that they accrue 6 full years of service.
There are arguments against the proposal from MLB, notably since players often reach the big leagues early. A guy who debuts at 20-years-old might not make free agency for nearly 10 years, which is problematic.
There is still a long way to go, but things are moving in the favor of players. And that seems to be a good thing for the moment.
Dodgers: Max Scherzer Evades Question About His Future in Blue
Until the sides agree on a DH IN BOTH LEAGUES, I don’t care to hear much more about other proposals.
God forbid. It’s enough one league has zero strategy required. Nine year olds can manage dh teams.
The rules need to be the same for BOTH leagues. This current set up is ridiculous. Get rid of DH in the AL then. It’s an unfair playing field in MLB,the only major sport that has this stupid set up.
I want the DH just because we have puppet/FO combo running the team.
Hello Don, you can bet every NL manager and GM WANTS a DH to protect their pitching investments.
How did ya like the fact that Urias had to go on IL because he got injured while batting? And still even with a DH, Dodgers could have just as easily had Urias skip a turn or 2 to keep him fresh for the stretch run.
We’ll at least they’re talking.
Unless the owners agree to Team Salary minimums and take away penalties for signing free agents there will be a strike.
I think the NL will agree to the DH as baseball desperately needs more offense and as pitchers are usually the highest-paid player’s teams want to keep them off the base-paths and at-bat to curtail injuries.
I also believe they will fight to not punish teams with higher salary limits as that is good for the players.
Unless the owners decide to meet the Players with honest changes there will be a long and bitter strike as neither side trusts the other.
Manfred is the worst.
Dodger Boy, that’s an understatement because Manfred should be IMPEACHED!!