The last major issue remaining in discussions about a new collective bargaining agreement is signing bonuses for amateur draft picks, according to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press (link via the Miami Herald). Representatives for MLB and the MLB Players Association met yesterday in New York to discuss the upcoming CBA.
Commissioner Bud Selig wants to cap amateur signing bonuses with a slotting system. However, the players’ union opposes the idea of limiting draft bonuses for amateurs. Discussions about draft bonuses are tied to other parts of the agreement, according to Blum — not surprising given the nature of multi-variable negotiations.
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney wrote last week that Selig is unlikely to fight hard for slotting since doing so would risk extending the negotiations. Selig repeated later in the week that slotting is “really critical" for him.
