99 days of HELL is finally over! After months of frustration and wanting to tweet about how awful Rob Manfred is over and over, we have a deal. MLB and MLBPA have agreed to a new CBA and it will be ratified tonight!
Many baseball fans just wanted to know that Spring Training was going to start and that Opening Day would arrive in the early Spring, rather than at the end of Spring or Summer. It took multiple soft deadlines by the owners and the commissioner to get this deal done but it is done!
The main changes to the CBA are the following:
CBT: 230M-244M
4TH CBA Tax Tier added at 60 M above base threshold
Raise minimum salary to 700-780K
50M Pre-Arbitration Bonus Pool
12-Team Expanded Postseason
Implementation of 6-pick Draft Lottery
Amateur draft of 20 rounds
Maximum of 5 minor league options per season
Universal DH
Rule Changes are coming in 2023 (Shifts, Bigger Bases, Pitch Clock)
I am sure there will be more released as well, such as information about the international draft.
This deal seems like a win-win for both the owners and the players. The owners got their money with expanded playoffs. The players got their bonus pool and raising the minimum salary. It will be interesting to see the effects of the rule changes and expanding the playoffs will have with the product on the field. Hopefully, it is all for the best.
All that matters is baseball is back! Start your Opening Day countdowns. 28 sleeps until First Pitch! Get ready for a wild week of free agency. This is a great day for baseball!