New CBA

[Crazysilver03]

From Rosenthal

Draft-pick compensation for free agents also will change, with fewer restrictions on clubs that want to sign certain premier, or Type A, free agents. Some of those restrictions would ease immediately, sources say; other adjustments would take effect in 2012.

I don't know what this is getting towards and I am sure we will find out within the next 72 hours but this could be positive for the Orioles.

The union is concerned that all but the elite Type A free agents — players such as left-hander CC Sabathia and first basemen Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder — are devalued by the current system.

Draft-pick compensation was designed to reward teams that lost free agents, not inhibit the movement of such players. But clubs now value draft picks to a greater extent than they did when the system was created, making them less willing to sacrifice picks for certain free agents.

While the players who suffered the most harm in recent years were middle-inning relievers who achieved Type A status, sources say that the union also wants to protect certain others in this year’s free-agent class, including designated hitter David Ortiz, who is about to turn 36, and shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who is about to turn 33.

One obvious solution is to make the compensation for Type A picks similar to the compensation for Type B picks. Teams that lose such players receive a supplementary choice between the first and second rounds, but the signing teams do not forfeit picks.

To receive a pick under the new plan, one source said, a team might be required to make its free agent a qualifying offer — perhaps a set amount, perhaps a certain percentage more than his previous salary. The requirement of such an offer still could hurt a lesser Type A free agent; a team simply might choose to let him walk. But at least then that player would be free without the restriction of draft-pick compensation.

[weams]

From Rosenthal



I don't know what this is getting towards and I am sure we will find out within the next 72 hours but this could be positive for the Orioles.

Thanks for this. I am happy to hear we are close.

[LookinUp]

Call me crazy, but I wish baseball wasn't close to a deal. There are real inequities in this game, mostly between teams but I'm also not a fan of the guaranteed contracts. Either way, the lack of any strife between owners just shows me that they don't think the inequities are meaningful. They're content to watch Boston and NY run the league.

[carolinaoriole]

Call me crazy, but I wish baseball wasn't close to a deal. There are real inequities in this game, mostly between teams but I'm also not a fan of the guaranteed contracts. Either way, the lack of any strife between owners just shows me that they don't think the inequities are meaningful. They're content to watch Boston and NY run the league.

I agree totally. Except I believe the owners believe that the inequities are meaningful but they are afraid to challenge the union on anything. The only way these inequities will be fixed is that someday the owners will have the guts to fight the union and take the game back from the union.

[The Rick]

I agree totally. Except I believe the owners believe that the inequities are meaningful but they are afraid to challenge the union on anything. The only way these inequities will be fixed is that someday the owners will have the guts to fight the union and take the game back from the union.

They're not going to rock the boat too much when they're still making money like they are.

[Birds of B'more]

Call me crazy, but I wish baseball wasn't close to a deal. There are real inequities in this game, mostly between teams but I'm also not a fan of the guaranteed contracts. Either way, the lack of any strife between owners just shows me that they don't think the inequities are meaningful. They're content to watch Boston and NY run the league.

I have no issue with guaranteed contracts. I'd rather see more equitable revenue-sharing. But with most MLB revenues earned locally, it's tough to do. Either way, all of the owners are still making money, so you aren't going to get much dissent there. It's mostly a fan issue, since it results in a competitive disadvantage for some teams.