Latest On CBA Talks
MLB's collective bargaining agreement expires five weeks from now. Here's the latest on what the upcoming CBA will look like and when we might hear an announcement:
- The players and owners expect some sort of luxury tax system will exist under the new agreement, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. The luxury tax technically expired when the 2011 season ended and created a "hang-up" in the negotiations, according to Stark.
- Owners continue to demand hard slotting for draft picks and the union won't budge, so the sides are at a "standoff," Stark reports.
- The MLBPA aims to ensure that teams no longer surrender top picks for signing Type A free agents starting this offseason. However, the owners will only make this change in return for hard slotting, according to Stark.
- Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president of labor relations, is the point man on the Dodgers' ownership issues and the collective bargaining agreement, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). The sale of the Dodgers has slowed CBA talks, but it appears the sides will reach a deal within a few weeks.
Quick Hits: Moyer, Beltran, CBA, Lincecum, Mariners
It was 10 years ago today that the Diamondbacks set a World Series record for hits in a game, racking up 22 hits en route to a 15-2 rout of the Yankees in Game Six of the 2001 Series. This set the stage for a legendary seventh game that saw Luis Gonzalez's bloop single in the ninth inning off Mariano Rivera give the D'Backs their first world championship.
Some news from around the majors….
- The Mariners, Orioles, Pirates, Rangers, Rockies and Royals are among the teams that have sent scouts to monitor Jamie Moyer's throwing sessions, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Moyer now lives in San Diego, so Rosenthal guesses he'd prefer to pitch for a West Coast team — possibly a reunion with the Mariners, where Moyer is the club's all-time wins leader. The 49-year-old Moyer missed the entire 2011 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but two scouts tell Rosenthal that Moyer is throwing as well as ever.
- The Blue Jays are getting closer to hiring Chuck LaMar as a scout, tweets Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. LaMar was the original GM of the then-Devil Rays from 1998-2005 and has since worked in the front offices of the Phillies and the Nationals.
- Carlos Beltran could be re-signed if the Giants offer him a two-year deal with a vesting option on a third year, or three guaranteed years with a condition that Beltran plays left field, writes John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- A source tells ESPN's Jerry Crasnick not to expect any "meaningful news" about the new collective bargaining agreement until next week at the earliest. The disagreement about hard slotting for draft picks remains the major point of contention, and Crasnick isn't sure if any other issue is holding up the new deal.
- Dave Cameron of Fangraphs thinks the Giants could save a lot of money and improve the overall state of their roster if they traded Tim Lincecum.
- Jack Zduriencik tells Larry Larue of the Tacoma News Tribune that veteran relief pitching and an answer at third base are goals for the Mariners this offseason, plus the broader goals of adding a bat and starting pitching.
- The Padres have hired Chad MacDonald as their new vice-president and assistant general manager, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. MacDonald had been the Mets' scouting director, and ESPN's Keith Law (Twitter link) reports that the Mets have hired former Blue Jays scout Tommy Tanous to fill the position.
- Bob Garber, the agent for C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt, tells Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York that both his clients would enjoy pitching in New York and fit in well with the Yankees. We've heard, however, the Yankees are worried about Oswalt's injury history and aren't willing to go all-out to sign Wilson.
- Prince Fielder sits atop Keith Law's ranking of the top 50 free agents, edging out Albert Pujols for the #1 spot since Fielder is younger. Law calls this year's free agent class "one of the thinnest I've ever seen." MLBTR's Tim Dierkes flip-flopped Pujols and Fielder atop his own list of the top 50 free agents. You can get in on the action by entering MLBTR's Free Agent Prediction Contest for the chance to win several terrific prizes.
Latest On CBA Talks
Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires this offseason, but the owners and players are working toward an agreement and it won’t be a surprise if they announce a deal soon. Here are the details on the collective bargaining process:
- The MLB Players Association is willing to start taxing draft bonus spending, but they're adamantly against a hard-slotting system, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Slotting is the final major issue to resolve in talks between MLB and the players' union.
- We should expect a new collective bargaining agreement by the end of the week, according to MLB.com's Barry Bloom (on Twitter).
Quick Hits: Pirates, CBA, Cubs, Royals
Some late-night links on this Saturday night …
- The Pirates are considering exercising shortstop Ronny Cedeno's $3MM 2012 option, but they will likely pass on options for Chris Snyder ($6.75MM), Ryan Doumit ($7.25MM) and Paul Maholm ($9.75MM), according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. As well, Langosch adds the Bucs have interest in re-signing first baseman Derrek Lee but will probably allow Ryan Ludwick to walk in free agency.
- MLB and the players union are close on a new collective bargaining agreement, tweets Jon Heyman of SI.com, although slotting for draft signing bonuses remains an issue of debate. Commissioner Bud Selig and some small-market teams are in favor of hard slotting, according to Heyman.
- Cubs president Theo Epstein said he wants to talk to starter Carlos Zambrano before deciding how to proceed in handling the right-hander, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, whether that be retaining Zambrano or trying to trade him. As well, Epstein hinted at one of the organization's overarching goals: "We're looking for assets," Epstein said. "We're going to scratch and claw and do everything in our power — in the Draft, internationally, small trades, waiver claims. We need to build assets because we don't have enough of them.
- Royals GM Dayton Moore told Dick Kaegel of MLB.com that he will "explore trade possibilities to add a starter." Moore said the Royals probably won't try to sign a free-agent starter, however.
Heyman On Beltran, Reds, Fielder, CBA
The latest from Jon Heyman of SI.com:
- The Red Sox are expected to pursue Carlos Beltran, according to Heyman. Beltran won’t cost a draft pick and posted a .300/.385/.525 line in 2011, but he would block Josh Reddick in right field. He’d be replacing fellow Scott Boras client J.D. Drew.
- The Reds are “still thinking about” Francisco Cordero’s $12MM option for 2012. Cincinnati considered an extension for Cordero in September. For all fantasy baseball updates on relievers, go to CloserNews.com and follow @closernews on Twitter.
- The Mariners are believed to be eyeing free agent first baseman Prince Fielder. Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik drafted Fielder with the Brewers, but the Mariners already have switch-hitting first baseman Justin Smoak in place.
- Heyman hears that the players and owners may compromise on the issue of slotting in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. The sides may be discussing a tax system for draft bonuses that would limit spending to an extent.
Draft/Int’l Spending Cap Discussed In CBA Talks
A hard slotting system for the amateur draft is no longer the main issue holding up a new collective bargaining agreement, a source tells Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (Twitter link). Still being discussed, however, are caps on both overall draft spending and for international signings.
Negotiations over the slotting system were thought to be the last obstacle to a new deal between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association. Bud Selig has been vocal about limiting draft bonuses as a way of ensuring that richer teams don't have an advantage in selecting amateur players, while the MLBPA has been equally adamant about retaining amateur players' ability to negotiate the best possible contracts. It has been reported by Buster Olney that MLB could yield on this issue since the league doesn't want to enter protracted labor negotiations.
A "draft cap" would have to be quite high for the MLBPA to consider anything that would limit player salaries. A compromise could be an adjustable cap based on draft order, which Goldstein reports is also being discussed. Teams with poor records and high first-round choices would have more money to sign their picks, whereas successful teams picking near the bottom of the first round would have a smaller draft cap under which to operate.
SI.com's Melissa Segura reported earlier today that an international signing cap could be in the range of $2-$2.5MM, though it wasn't certain if this total was for all international signings or just for those from the Dominican Republic.
Quick Hits: Valverde, Wang, Cubs
Links for Thursday afternoon, before what may be the final baseball game of the 2011 season…
- The Tigers are expected to pick up Jose Valverde’s $9MM option for 2012 soon, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
- Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post hears from Alan Nero, the agent for Chien-Ming Wang, that a new deal between the right-hander and the Nationals is likely. The Nationals are Wang's first choice and negotiations are "routine," according to Nero. Washington GM Mike Rizzo confirmed yesterday that the sides are working toward a new contract.
- Cubs assistant GM Randy Bush will stay on under president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (on Twitter).
- Melissa Segura of SI.com hears that baseball’s upcoming collective bargaining agreement could include a cap in the $2-2.5MM range for international signings (Twitter link). It’s not clear whether the cap would apply to all countries or just the Dominican Republic.
Draft Bonuses Last Major Issue In CBA Talks
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.
Selig On CBA, Slotting, Rays, Epstein, Playoffs
Commissioner Bud Selig discussed several topics in an interview with Chris Russo of SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio today before Game 2 of the World Series. Here are some of the highlights:
- In regards to the ongoing negotiations about a new collective bargaining agreement, Selig said talks were "constructive," though it would be "pretty optimistic" to hope that a new deal could be announced before the end of the World Series.
- The issue of a hard slotting system for the draft is "really critical" for Selig. Buster Olney reported yesterday that Selig was unlikely to "dig in and fight" for slotting since doing so would prolong the labor negotiations.
- Selig is hopeful that an extra wild card team in each league could be added in time for the 2012 postseason. Selig hears from a number of managers that they would prefer a one-game playoff between each league's wild card teams, rather than a best-of-three playoff.
- The commissioner is "concerned" about the low attendance in Tampa Bay. The Rays "are a wonderful organization, produced a terrific team this year and finished last in the American League in attendance. I’ll let you draw your own conclusion. That’s bad." The Rays' quest for a new stadium is not quite a "lost cause," as Russo describes, but Selig said he is "usually an optimist and I don’t have any reason to be too optimistic" about the situation.
- Selig admitted that he could possibly be called in to decide the compensation the Cubs would owe the Red Sox for Theo Epstein.
- Judging fair and foul balls could become reviewable via instant replay. Besides this change, however, Selig said "there is no appetite anywhere, including mine, for any instant replay" of other plays.
- "Never have so many [networks] been interested in acquiring our rights," Selig said in regards about MLB's next TV contracts for the postseason.
MLB, Union Progressing In CBA Talks
MLB and the MLB Players’ Association are making “significant progress” toward a five-year extension of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The sides aren’t likely to reach a deal before the weekend, but they could agree to terms before the World Series ends.
MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner confirmed to Strauss that there is “no lack of urgency” when it comes to finalizing a deal. Weiner said no one issue represents an overwhelming obstacle in the negotiations, though many issues have yet to be fully resolved. Strauss heard from another source who says the sides are working out the “nuts and bolts” of a new deal.
Baseball’s current CBA expires on December 11th, but it appears to be in both sides’ best interests to complete a deal by the time free agency begins in early November. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported this week that players and owners remain far apart on the issue of hard slotting for draft bonuses. Rosenthal also said a deal could occur during the World Series.