We just wrapped up a series of posts regarding potential extension candidates, with part of the premise being that the ongoing MLB pause could afford opportunities for negotiations. But that won’t be possible under the terms of the Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter.
It turns out that contract talks between teams and their own players will not be permitted while MLB rosters are frozen. Once a second Spring Training resumes, then further negotiations can take place.
In theory, there’s no impact to the likelihood of deals being struck. But in practice, this could make quite a difference. Added time and space without other business on the calendar might’ve helped. Perhaps the uncertainty of the global pandemic would’ve made some players more inclined to seek the safety of guaranteed salary — a factor that may have led the union to agree that talks shouldn’t be allowed.
Now that teams are precluded from further exploring deals, it may actually make it tougher to move past the finish line in situations where talks had already advanced during spring camp. After all, there will be myriad complex matters to sort out and innumerable distractions once the go-ahead is finally given for a ramp-up to the season. And there’ll be ample uncertainty of different kinds, creating a potential wrench for any talks.
Indication was, prior to the shutdown, that quite a few younger players had been targeted. But at this point, it’s tough to guess how many deals will end up being made.
It’s worth noting also that, per Nightengale, optional assignments can still occur until Saturday. In concert with yesterday’s flurry of options, it’s worth wondering just what the impact is. That will presumably be answered once the full details of the coronavirus adjustment agreement are known.
Generally, a player injured while on optional assignment will not earn service time while he is sidelined; whether that would have an impact in this case isn’t entirely clear. Likewise, the modifications to the collective bargaining agreement provide different payments to different classes of players, though it isn’t quite evident whether a late-breaking decision to option a player would change his earnings in the event the season isn’t played.
interesting. Owners with no idea when revenue will start rolling in probably wouldn’t be in too big of a hurry to sign deals, either.
But this would be a great time to have talks about possible numbers, lay some groundwork for the future.
But Halo extensions are just that. Extensions. Revenue this year or not is not needed for the extended years.
Jeff, that’s what I was wondering … why were teams all of a sudden optioning 40 man roster players to the minors while not touching their NRIs … so it has to do something with either pay or service time.
they are procedural moves that had to happen eventually.
Of course, but a slew of teams did them all at once after a long period of inactivity, so there is something else to it, or else they would have just waited until once camps rebooted.
The CBA expires after the 2020 season. Start the negotiations ASAP
after last offseason there wolnt be a work stoppage.
If overpaying Machado and Harper last season saved the players faith in the system Ive got 2 new favorite players but I dont think thats the case
** There was never anything wrong with free agency** other than Boras and Co throwing out some chum and the guppies swallowing it up
Add in a little player association manipulation to the vets…
Now how we reward players 28 and under in most cases….thats a whole different story
The CBA expires after the 2021 season.
buh bye JT. you will be missed.
He’s going to resign
Best to let him go if he’s looking for a Posey contract.
Probably for the best considering-
It would have been a wild dynamic for a few players/teams if not which I eluded to in the previous post by MLBTR on extensions for AL central teams
Last thing any union wants is for a member to seek a guaranteed income.
Obvious which side demanded this addition.
True, kinda, but what about players who felt it in their best interest to take guaranteed money Now rather than later, they are shut-out completely-
It would have made for some interesting deals but ultimately……
I think they made the right move overall ……….. And I don’t think its a one sided conspiracy angle that you are insinuating. Im sure theres more than a handful of players today who were very disappointed at the chance to even have the ability to ink a nice 50-125 mill guaranteed deal tomorrow