Done deal: MLB, players agree to collective bargaining agreement. Season starts April 7
Miami Marlins fans, you can exhale.
Baseball is on the horizon.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association on Thursday afternoon agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement, paving the way for the 2022 season to begin and potentially be played in its entirety.
The agreement comes on the 99th day of the league-imposed lockout of its players that began when the previous CBA expired on Dec. 2.
The sides were finally able to agree to terms on key economic agreements, primarily the luxury tax threshold, pre-arbitration bonus pool and minimum salaries. They also agreed to continue negotiating on the establishment of an international draft that would start in 2024. The deadline to come to terms on that is July 25, upon which direct draft-pick compensation (the qualifying offer in free agency) would be removed starting in the 2022-2023 season.
The specific details:
▪ Minimum salary bumps up to $700,000 this season and then increases by $20,000 each year of the deal.
▪ The competitive balance tax threshold increases to $230 million this season and then goes to $233 million in 2023, $237 million in 2024, $241 million in 2025 and $244 million in 2026.
▪ The new pre-arbitration bonus pool will be $50 million annually and distributed to the top 100 eligible players based on awards and statistical performance.
▪ A draft lottery will be instituted for the top six picks in the MLB Draft. The 18 teams that don’t make the playoffs will be eligible.
▪ Starting in 2023, a committe consisting of four players, six MLB appointment members and one umpire will be tasked with adopting rule changes.
▪ Contracts for arbitration-eligible players will be guaranteed.
▪ Top prospects who finish first or second in the Rookie of the Year voting will receive a full year of service.
▪ Clubs that promote top prospects to Opening Day rosters will be eligible to receive draft picks if the player finishes in the top three in the Rookie of the Year voting or top five in MVP or Cy Young voting.
▪ The playoffs expand to 12 teams, with the top two division winners receiving a bye.
▪ Universal designated hitter.
▪ Players may only be optioned five times per season.
So, what happens from here?
Players are able to voluntarily report to spring training sites as soon as Friday, with Sunday serving as the mandatory report day and spring training games beginning March 18.
Opening Day is set for April 7. That would mean the Marlins will begin the season on April 8 on the road against the San Francisco Giants. Miami was originally scheduled to have an off day on April 7 following a seven-game homestand to begin the season — four games against the Atlanta Braves from March 31-April 3 and three games against the Texas Rangers from April 4-6.
Free agency and other MLB-related transactions have resumed.
This story was originally published March 10, 2022 at 3:42 PM.
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