Sticking points remain as MLB, union look to avoid lockout by Thursday deadline

[Travis Painter]

I did not realize that the CBA expires on Thursday and a lockout is a real possibility.  Team officials will not attend winter meetings if a lockout occurs.  Talk about a buzzkill for the offseason.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/11/28/sticking-points-remain-as-mlb-union-look-to-avoid-lockout-by-thursday-deadline/

[AngelsLakersFan]

If there is a lockout I will roll my eyes hard.

Record profits, a rapidly declining share of revenue by the players and the owners are crying about it.

[Angel Oracle]

If these two sides can't see what happened in 1994, especially the owners, then F them all! 

When did these owners all start to emulate Loria?

[totdprods]

Is it really solely about money or more so that there is are several big key topics that simply haven't been addressed for a long time that need a lot more attention now that they were given?

[Travis Painter]

It seems like its focused on an international draft, which the players union is against, and free agent draft pick compensation.

[AngelsLakersFan]

9 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Is it really solely about money or more so that there is are several big key topics that simply haven't been addressed for a long time that need a lot more attention now that they were given?

It's always about money. The owners want an international draft and they want it for one reason: to save money. The players see that as a big bargaining chip and they want something in return for it.

[ettin]

1 hour ago, Travis Painter said:

I did not realize that the CBA expires on Thursday and a lockout is a real possibility.  Team officials will not attend winter meetings if a lockout occurs.  Talk about a buzzkill for the offseason.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/11/28/sticking-points-remain-as-mlb-union-look-to-avoid-lockout-by-thursday-deadline/

Really? Really you didn't know?

"The CBT threshold for 2017 has not yet been determined because Major League Baseball and the Player’s Union have not come to terms on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

 

This new CBA will likely be in place before the current one expires on December 1st, 2016. Alternatively the Commissioner and Player’s Union could agree to roll over the current rules into 2017.

 

If MLB and the Player’s Union cannot come to an agreement by that time it could result in a work stoppage and even a prolonged labor dispute resulting in games not being played.

 

As David Cameron stated, baseball has, “enjoyed nearly unprecedented labor peace among the major American team sports.”, so there is certainly motivation to maintain that armistice moving forward.

 

However, as Cameron and others have noted, there are several issues under discussion that could prove to be sticking points including:

 

 Pace of play

 Length of Regular Season Schedule

 Player Compensation

 Revenue Sharing

 Domestic Violence Policy

 Renegotiation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program

 Public Dissemination of Player Health Data

 Ability to Trade Draft Picks

 International Draft

 MLB Geographical Expansion

 Modification and/or Elimination of the Qualifying Offer

 Defensive Shifts

 

One or more of these issues could prove to be a roadblock in negotiations. The hope of course is that all sides can compromise and reach common agreement on a new CBA so that the fans can continue to watch uninterrupted baseball.

 

If negotiations proceed smoothly the new CBA should be released prior to the end of the season or at the latest by the end of November before the current CBA expires. This will allow the Angels front office to read and absorb the new regulations and how they impact team payroll and the overall business model.

 

It is possible too that a new CBA might temporarily delay offseason activity across all of MLB until team front offices grasp all of the details and implications that the fresh agreement contains. On the flip side teams likely have a good idea of the items being discussed and might take actions early before the new rules are put in place in anticipation of projected changes. The former seems more likely however.

 

What this all means in regard to team financials and the CBT is that the new CBA could have unexpected impacts which might keep it at the current $189MM level, raise it up to $200MM or more, eliminate it entirely, or even substitute it for a new system.

 

Because there is no way to know what will happen to the CBT, the Angels payroll budget will likely be capped at $189MM until the rules are understood and an operating budget can be firmly identified.

 

In this case the Angels would likely spend no more than $180MM to start the 2017 season if nothing changes."

 

 

You need to read the only one and true source for all things Angels! Just messing with you! (seriously though you should read the Primers)

[Sully151]

Defensive shifts are a sticking point?

[John Smith]

"The luxury tax is expected to stay at $189 million in 2017, with incremental raises in the next five years."

"For now, it appears the 2017 landscape - and the winter free-agent and trade market - won't be altered drastically. The incremental bumps in the luxury-tax ceiling may eventually aid some upper-middle class clubs - such as the Los Angeles Angels or Detroit Tigers - whose aversion to paying taxes on payroll beyond $189 million affected their spending."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/11/29/mlb-collective-bargaining-agreement-lockout/94609712/

 

[Homebrewer]

Can't imagine either side will allow it to go to the "lockout" stage....baseball is in such a great position right now with the compelling WS and the great playoffs, along with the downswing in NFL viewership.

I am worried that the winter meetings will be delayed, though. There is already talk that some teams FOs won't participate unless they know how the new CBA is going to read. 

[ettin]

15 hours ago, Sully151 said:

Defensive shifts are a sticking point?

Yes it is believe it or not. MLB likes offense and defensive shifts have literally shut down certain players like Ryan Howard for instance. There have been suggestions that infielders and outfielders need to stay in certain defined areas on the playing field rather than allowing say, for instance, a 3B moving to the 2B side against a left-handed heavy pull hitter.

[AngelsLakersFan]

32 minutes ago, ettin said:

Yes it is believe it or not. MLB likes offense and defensive shifts have literally shut down certain players like Ryan Howard for instance. There have been suggestions that infielders and outfielders need to stay in certain defined areas on the playing field rather than allowing say, for instance, a 3B moving to the 2B side against a left-handed heavy pull hitter.

If even one thing mentioned in this thread ends up happening then Manfred is a tool who should be fired. 

 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

I don't see it happening, but I would like to see an end to guaranteed contracts, like every other sport has.

[AngelsLakersFan]

48 minutes ago, Vegas Halo Fan said:

I don't see it happening, but I would like to see an end to guaranteed contracts, like every other sport has.

I thought that only existed in football? 
 

[Lou]

1 hour ago, Vegas Halo Fan said:

I don't see it happening, but I would like to see an end to guaranteed contracts, like every other sport has.

every other sport? 

[Blarg]

2 hours ago, ettin said:

Yes it is believe it or not. MLB likes offense and defensive shifts have literally shut down certain players like Ryan Howard for instance. There have been suggestions that infielders and outfielders need to stay in certain defined areas on the playing field rather than allowing say, for instance, a 3B moving to the 2B side against a left-handed heavy pull hitter.

It never prevented Ted Williams from being the best pure hitter in baseball. Ryan Howard needs to learn how to hit better. 

[Angel Oracle]

Ryan Howard needs to retire.

[Homebrewer]

 

[disarcina]

MLB will be making a real mistake if there's a lock out by the owners and/or a strike by the players.

The last work stoppage in baseball hurt the game.

Another stoppage here, I think would cause some long term damage -- even if it doesn't cause lasting damage (which it might), I think a lot of America's emerging demographics - the millennials -- could take baseball or leave it.......the hard core fan base skews to the older side.

I think if MLB has a work stoppage the economic damage would be significant and the road back would take longer than it did on the prior work stoppages,

if the pace of the game slowed to STOP -- a lot of folks may STOP watching for a lifetime.

 

[tdawg87]

The last time there was threat of a lockout the Angels won the WS.

Edge: Lowell

[Blarg]

Selig threatened to contract the Angels. He was such an asshole.

[Homebrewer]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 2h2 hours ago

Source with knowledge of CBA talks, moments ago: "There is very positive dialogue right now. More meetings to come tonight."

[Jeff Fletcher]

Talk of a lockout is pretty ridiculous because it's December. (Or will be when the CBA expires.)

No games are being canceled and no players are missing a paycheck. 

This is all just posturing. There's going to be an agreement in the next few days. 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

On 11/29/2016 at 1:31 PM, AngelsLakersFan said:

I thought that only existed in football? 
 

Only MLB has fully guaranteed contracts.

[Stradling]

Unless you count the NBA.