The MLB has a new labor agreement that is in the process of being ratified this week. Once ratified, it will officially mean 5 more peaceful years in the baseball universe. This is significant when you watch the other major sports struggle with their players and respective CBA’s (collective bargaining agreement). This will make 21 years of continuous labor peace for baseball something to be loudly applauded!
Many of the changes in this agreement are really just slight adjustments in language to help update the old labor rules already in place. Along with a few major additions to the CBA, especially in both drug testing and team draft compensation for free agents.
The actual CBA is too large for me to post and, really, you would never want to read the whole thing anyway. A major snooze fest to say the least! Although I undoubtedly missed a few of them, I have listed many of the more interesting topics covered and I tried to explain them when needed (or just added my 2 cents for the fun of it).
HGH testing added to the drug testing policies:
Thus, MLB begins the blood testing for human growth hormones (HGH) and I applaud! Every player will be tested for HGH during spring training and are subject to testing at anytime during the season, if MLB deems there is reasonable cause to do so. Finally, all players are now subject to random tests during the off-season! A very bold move if I do say so myself!
Brand new social media policies and outlines:
Though this is still being ironed out, there will be tighter rules and policies covering the usage of Twitter, Facebook and all other social media. When it’s allowed to be used and to what degree. It will include policing social media names and nicknames so they don’t offend. Basically MLB wants to be able to monitor and properly discipline anyone involved with MLB, to help keep the integrity of game intact.
New free-agent compensation ranking system:
The old system created too many “A” level free agents and too many loopholes for teams to be overcompensated. In the future, to receive any draft compensation, a player must have been with that team all season long. Also, the team must offer a salary worth at least the average of the 125 highest salaries in baseball (which is currently $12.4 million).
New minimum major league salary:
YES! Finally! The new minimum is $480,000 dollars. Phew!
New helmet and bat laws:
Starting in 2013, all players will be required to use the new helmets and all new players will be prohibited from using low-density maple bats (old players will be grand fathered in and be allowed to continue wreaking havoc). The new helmets are designed to withstand the over 100 MPH pitches and are considerably safer (though many players will complain they now look like the Great Gazoo from the Flinstones cartoon).
Smokeless tobacco restrictions:
Players will be greatly curtailed in their public use of smokeless tobacco products. For example, players are not allowed to use it during interviews, club appearances or during any official MLB business. Another example is that players are no longer allowed to carry tobacco tins in their uniforms. I wonder if players are still allowed to get throat cancer?
Competitive balance lottery/additional draft picks:
MLB will allow the smallest markets/lowest revenue teams to have extra draft picks. My two cents, is that the teams who already are excellent at using their picks and growing talent within their systems will reap the benefits of these additional picks in 4 or 5 years. So, what I am really trying to say is that it won’t help the Pittsburgh Pirates at all.
New guidelines for amateur draft bonuses and international player signings:
The MLB is putting restraints in place to curtail the spending on these players. This hopefully will help the smaller market teams and not continue the absurd trend of bonuses being handed out to players who never even make it to the major leagues. Basically, teams can still go over certain levels of bonuses, but they will be additionally taxed based on how far they go (a kind of luxury bonus spending tax). If they REALLY go too far the team can lose the following year’s (or even the next two years) first round pick entirely, Ouch! I say, anyone going too crazy with the bonuses should just be forced to take on Vernon Wells’ contract, that’ll teach ‘em!
There is a possibly big negative with the new guidelines though; many baseball execs think great athletic high schoolers will forgo future baseball drafts for more lucrative bonuses in other sports. Joe Mauer is a perfect example of a crazy signing bonus out of high school, but that money is what solidified his decision to go into baseball instead of football (Mauer was a national player of the year in both sports in high school!).
Players now have private rooms without roommates during spring training:
Since 1997 players have not had to have roommates during the regular season. But they didn’t have that perk during spring training. Now, all players officially on the 40-man roster will have there own private hotel room. Yet another reason for minor leaguers to dream about making it to the majors!
Changes in revenue sharing/Luxury tax:
The 15 largest markets will not be able to receive revenue sharing under any circumstance. The formula to figure out the largest markets and team revenues will be changed with lucrative TV/Cable contracts properly being figured in. The new Luxury tax levels will be increased to $189 mil for the years 2014 through 2016. (The 2013 level is $178 mil, same as the 2012 level)
Banning of players and team officials from contacting official scorers:
If a team or player feels strongly enough about a scoring decision, they can now appeal the decision directly with MLB. The appeal would include having to send appropriate video of the play in question.
Division and league realignment/Brand new scheduling format:
Starting in 2013, a National League team (probably the Houston Astros) will move to the American league. This will create two 15 team leagues. The divisions will also be realigned to create 6 divisions of 5 teams each, 3 divisions in each league. This will require constant interleague games to be played throughout the season. Each team will play no more than 20 interleague games a season. The exact formula is still being ironed out. The biggest issue I have with this is during the last month of season, when the average knowledgeable baseball fan wants their team to play other teams in their division! After all, do you want the division winners and teams that make the playoffs to be decided by teams not in the division? In my opinion, something to be weary of for sure.
New double-header roster size:
Teams playing double headers are allowed to increase their roster size from 25 to 26 players for the duration of the doubleheader. The best way to help the season and post-season not stretch into December is to have more scheduled doubleheaders. If every team had just 2 doubleheaders scheduled each month there would be an extra week available for the postseason without it having to end in November. I grew up on regular Sunday doubleheaders and would love them to make a reappearance!
Expanded playoff system:
Starting in 2013 there will be an additional wildcard team included from each league. This will create an extra round in the playoffs, where the two wildcard teams will meet. The exact length of the additional series has yet to be detailed, though all bets are initially on a one game elimination round. But along with the addition of a new round there may be shortening of other rounds, which have yet to be fully detailed. Also, there has to be a decision on a tiebreak system for possible wildcard teams with the same record.
New Language allowing teams from the same division to meet at any point during the post-season: This provision is needed to help with the expanded wildcard and playoff system. The addition of two more teams to the post-season makes it too difficult to not have the possibility of teams in the same division playing each other. For example, what if both wildcards are from the same division?
All-Star game concerns:
All players chosen for the all-star game must now participate unless injured or excused by the commissioner. I wonder what kind of doctor’s note Jeter would have brought last year?
An official ban on players getting tattoos with corporate logos:
I guess MLB wants all the ad revenues for themselves! That’s thinking ahead to make sure there are no future issues.
The possibility that players will be asked to wear microphones during games: MLB wants to use newer technology to bring the game closer to the fans. One of the ways is to hear the sounds of the game. Other sports have already used this to great effect.
Expanded commissioner powers and language to discipline players:
The definition of personal conduct has been reworded to cover any violations of federal, state and/or local laws. Basically, anything that is deemed detrimental to the positive image baseball is trying to portray. Also, additional suspensions have been outlined for throwing anything (balls, equipment, french fries, etc) at any non-uniformed personnel. Plus, additional penalties outlined for any assault/attempted assault on fans, media, umpires, stadium venders, mascots, etc. And finally, any public statement that questions the integrity of anyone involved with the game of baseball (umpires, MBL staff, official scorers, the commissioner himself, etc).
Expanded video replay:
The video replay options will expand to include all fair/foul calls and disputed (possibly) trapped fly balls. Two instances, which shouldn’t realistically change the game’s pace too much, in my opinion. It will also include any needed video replay of whether a ball was interfered with by a fan. These video replays are still subject to negotiations with the umpires union, but MLB seems to think that it will go smoothly (I guess the umps are getting a nice salary increase soon).
Official ban on players betting with illegal bookies on any sport:
Guess you can only been seen with legal bookies since that won’t tarnish any image. Everyone has the right to lose his or her money fair and square!
Possibility of a longer All-Star break:
The break probably will lengthen to 4 days instead of the current 3 days. Great for the players to get a break during the season, unfortunately this will wreak havoc on fantasy baseball!
No more “taxi-squads”:
Many MLB clubs often bring a small group of minor leaguers to travel with them, but do not activate them unless necessary. This will not be allowed, minor leaguers brought to the major league club have to officially be activated and placed on the team’s roster.
Players wishing to change uniform numbers have to give 8 months notice:
Optionally, the players can change uniform numbers anytime they want to, if they are willing to pay for MLB’s inventory of obsolete jerseys and other chachkies. I am guessing that won’t happen too often! For practical purposes, that means notifying MLB by July 31st of the intention to change uniform numbers the following season.
An increase in fines for slow moving hitters/pitchers:
For each violation beyond the 5th one, there will be a $10 thousand dollar fine. I think Josh Beckett might be very poor by the end of the season.
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