The Major League Baseball Players' Association delivered its first proposals to MLB on Wednesday as labor talks officially opened in New York.
The union proposed that the minimum salary increases nearly doubles from $780,000 to $1.5 million, and lowers free agency from six years to five years for players 30 and older. The MLBPA also proposed that each club would be guaranteed a minimum of $240 million in revenue-sharing each season.
Low-revenue clubs, such as theMilwaukee BrewersandTampa Bay Rays, would receive monetary bonuses for qualifying for the playoffs or even having a winning record.
The proposal would penalize teams for not putting the revenue-sharing money back towards players, with each club required to have a payroll of at least $150 million.
“Today, the MLBPA presented a comprehensive set of economic proposals designed to advance the rights and benefits of players at all levels,” MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer said.
“Our goal is to preserve and improve baseball’s market system, rewarding competition on and off the field. Additionally, the players’ proposals provide increased revenue sharing initially guaranteeing every small market Club a minimum of $240 [million] in revenue every season."
“This enhanced revenue sharing includes added protections to ensure clubs prioritize winning over profiteering. Ultimately, our proposals are designed to build upon the incredible momentum and popularity of our sport world-wide.”
Major League Baseball, which is expected to make its initial proposal Thursday, said that the union’s pitch will create greater imbalance in the game, with 78% of the top 15 teams in payroll qualifying for the NLCS and ALCS the past decade.
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“We appreciate the union making a set of proposals and we look forward to continuing the bargaining process and working towards solving the competitive balance problem our fans are telling us needs to be addressed," MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said. “We understand their proposals are designed to benefit players. Unfortunately, they do not address, and in fact, exacerbate the competitive balance problem our fans are telling us we must address.
“The MLBPA’s proposal would reduce the amount transferred to lower-revenue clubs, weaken the competitive balance tax, and lead to even more payroll disparity that exists today. For example, under the union’s proposal, the Dodgers would pay less in luxury tax penalties, giving them an additional $70 million to spend on payroll."
The union is also seeking that more players be eligible for salary arbitration, increasing it from players who are among the top 22% in service time with at least two years of service to 44%, and increasing the minimum offer to $3 million.
The union wants qualifying offers for free agents eliminated, as well as any penalties for clubs signing free agents, while increasing benefits to low-payroll clubs who lose players to free agency.
The union also is seeking the luxury tax thresholds are increased from $244 million to $300 million while all non-monetary penalties (draft picks) are removed. Also included are more rules to combat potential service time manipulation while expanding the draft lottery to further disincentivize tanking.
“We all see the momentum in our game,” executive subcommittee member Chris Bassitt said in the union release. “Amazing players and incredible fans. Attendance, viewership, interest – by any measure you want to use, our game is moving in a positive direction. We’ve put forward proposals designed to continue that trend.
“Support, incentivize, and reward clubs who are committed to competing, especially small market clubs. Compensate players fairly for the work they are doing. Preserve the rights that generations of players have fought for and grow the game all of us love.”
The current CBA expires on Dec. 1, and if an agreement is not reached, MLB is expected to impose a lockout.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB labor war begins with MLBPA proposal on revenue sharing
