Collective Bargaining Agreement

[Edwards Kings]

I have not been able to find much on progress. Anyone know/hear anything? Deadline is Thursday, yes?

[Greg Ambrosius]

I have not been able to find much on progress. Anyone know/hear anything? Deadline is Thursday, yes?

Buster Olney seems to be the one to follow for the latest news. It sounds like they met through the night and are a little closer to an agreement, but anything can happen at this late hour. No way the two sides should be at this point, but deadlines do spur action. Let's see if it happens tonight.

http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/i ... t?id=15143

Buster Olney Verified account ‏@Buster_ESPN 17h17 hours ago

Sources: Players Association, MLB meeting now. Some involved are hopeful that coolers heads will prevail + a path to settlement established.
13 replies 117 retweets 144 likes
Buster Olney Verified account ‏@Buster_ESPN 18h18 hours ago

Last big hurdle for MLB/union in CBA talks is the CBT--competitive balance tax. Growing pessimism a deal done by Thurs. 12:01 a.m. deadline.
15 replies 67 retweets 60 likes

Good story here by Jayson Stark as well:

http://www.espn.com/blog/jayson-stark/p ... s-midnight

[Greg Ambrosius]

Talks are still ongoing, but here's one interesting item that could wind up in the new CBA:

"The sides have talked about starting future seasons four or five days earlier than in the past as a means to give teams more days off during the regular season."

If that would happen, the NFBC drafts would then be on Opening Weekend of March Madness again and Sweet Sixteen. I LOVE THAT CHANGE!!

Let's hope the two sides reach an agreement tonight and this is part of it. By 2018 we could be on March Madness Opening Weekend again!!

[KJ Duke]

Talks are still ongoing, but here's one interesting item that could wind up in the new CBA:

"The sides have talked about starting future seasons four or five days earlier than in the past as a means to give teams more days off during the regular season."

If that would happen, the NFBC drafts would then be on Opening Weekend of March Madness again and Sweet Sixteen. I LOVE THAT CHANGE!!

Let's hope the two sides reach an agreement tonight and this is part of it. By 2018 we could be on March Madness Opening Weekend again!!

Long season even longer, no thanks unless they shorten the back end. Bring back 154!

[Bronx Yankees]

Deal is done. Five more years of labor peace. Haven't heard anything yet re timing of the season. Still, good news for baseball all around.

Mike

[Bronx Yankees]

Saw a report that mentioned three interesting changes:

1. Season length increased by five days - now will start midweek instead of on Sunday to give players five more off days.
2. Home field advantage in the World Series will go to team with the best record, not the team whose league wins the All-Star Game. Never liked basing it on the All-Star Game in an effort to give an exhibition game some special meaning.
3. Minimum time on the DL cut from 15 days to 10 days. First thought is that this will allow more guys to come back from the DL a little earlier. Second thought is that it also might lead to more DL trips instead of having players miss game after game but not get put on the DL. I think I like this change, but we'll see how it plays out.

Mike

[Joe Sambito]

I love the idea of drafting on March Madness Opening Weekend, makes me feel a bit nostalgic to the early days of the NFBC, when men were men and Dan Kenyon rolled into the Jockey Club with a burner phone.

[rickerbockerNFBC]

I was waiting to join a DC to make sure no lock out. So, I've just signed up for my first DC. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Yah Mule]

Saw a report that mentioned three interesting changes:

1. Season length increased by five days - now will start midweek instead of on Sunday to give players five more off days.
2. Home field advantage in the World Series will go to team with the best record, not the team whose league wins the All-Star Game. Never liked basing it on the All-Star Game in an effort to give an exhibition game some special meaning.
3. Minimum time on the DL cut from 15 days to 10 days. First thought is that this will allow more guys to come back from the DL a little earlier. Second thought is that it also might lead to more DL trips instead of having players miss game after game but not get put on the DL. I think I like this change, but we'll see how it plays out.

Mike

I'm wondering about the DL change. Basically, you can simply DL a pitcher with any vague malady if you want to skip him in the rotation now. Going to have to see how this works out. Seemed destined to be abused.

Does this mean expanding rosters to a 26th man is off the table now? If they do increase roster size, they have to cap the number of pitchers you can roster. If they want to see the league average drop under .250, giving these managers another matchup specialist to deploy is a great way to do that.

[Bronx Yankees]

Saw a report that mentioned three interesting changes:

1. Season length increased by five days - now will start midweek instead of on Sunday to give players five more off days.
2. Home field advantage in the World Series will go to team with the best record, not the team whose league wins the All-Star Game. Never liked basing it on the All-Star Game in an effort to give an exhibition game some special meaning.
3. Minimum time on the DL cut from 15 days to 10 days. First thought is that this will allow more guys to come back from the DL a little earlier. Second thought is that it also might lead to more DL trips instead of having players miss game after game but not get put on the DL. I think I like this change, but we'll see how it plays out.

Mike

I'm wondering about the DL change. Basically, you can simply DL a pitcher with any vague malady if you want to skip him in the rotation now. Going to have to see how this works out. Seemed destined to be abused.

Does this mean expanding rosters to a 26th man is off the table now? If they do increase roster size, they have to cap the number of pitchers you can roster. If they want to see the league average drop under .250, giving these managers another matchup specialist to deploy is a great way to do that.

Jim - My understanding is that the proposed 26th roster spot did NOT make it into the new CBA. You raise a good point re the new 10 DL period - SPs whose starts are getting skipped to manage their workloads probably will develop many more imaginary blisters requiring DL stints.

Mike

[Yah Mule]

Saw a report that mentioned three interesting changes:

1. Season length increased by five days - now will start midweek instead of on Sunday to give players five more off days.
2. Home field advantage in the World Series will go to team with the best record, not the team whose league wins the All-Star Game. Never liked basing it on the All-Star Game in an effort to give an exhibition game some special meaning.
3. Minimum time on the DL cut from 15 days to 10 days. First thought is that this will allow more guys to come back from the DL a little earlier. Second thought is that it also might lead to more DL trips instead of having players miss game after game but not get put on the DL. I think I like this change, but we'll see how it plays out.

Mike

I'm wondering about the DL change. Basically, you can simply DL a pitcher with any vague malady if you want to skip him in the rotation now. Going to have to see how this works out. Seemed destined to be abused.

Does this mean expanding rosters to a 26th man is off the table now? If they do increase roster size, they have to cap the number of pitchers you can roster. If they want to see the league average drop under .250, giving these managers another matchup specialist to deploy is a great way to do that.

Jim - My understanding is that the proposed 26th roster spot did NOT make it into the new CBA. You raise a good point re the new 10 DL period - SPs whose starts are getting skipped to manage their workloads probably will develop many more imaginary blisters requiring DL stints.

Mike

General soreness. I could qualify for the DL until I die if that one was on the table.

[COZ]

FYI. A reported fact in the new CBA is that in order to add 4 additonal off-days to the calendar, MLB is going with a mid-week start to the season in 2018, meaning a late March start. Per the calendar that would be Wednesday, March 28th which would bump up our draft weekends. Something for everyone to consider moving forward.