MLB Still Needs New CBA For 2012

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:01 am

It's amazing that with the NFL just coming off a lockout and with the NBA season in jeopardy because of an owner's lockout that nobody is talking about MLB's labor issues. The Collective Bargaining Agreement ends after the World Series, but there is hope that a new CBA could be signed in the next week. Let's hope so because the last thing we need is a drag out fight between baseball's owners and players.

I don't think that will happen and you certainly haven't seen it written that way from any of the MLB insiders. Isn't it amazing that of all the pro sports that Major League Baseball is the least troublesome? Do we even remember who Donald Fehr was anymore? Labor peace in baseball is about as foreign as peace in the Middle East, but believe it or not we have it.

Here is Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal on the new CBA and next year's league format:

Rosenthal On CBA Talks

By Tim Dierkes [October 17, 2011 at 2:02pm CST]

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has the latest on the talks between the players' union and owners as they aim to strike a new collective bargaining agreement...

It's a coin flip that an agreement will occur during the World Series, a source with knowledge of the discussions tells Rosenthal. While that goal remains within reach, Rosenthal says the more important target date is the opening of free agency five days after the Series. If no agreement is reached by then, it will create a new set of issues. The World Series will end between October 23rd and 27th this year.

Rosenthal hears the players and owners remain far apart on the owners' request for hard slotting in the amateur draft, yet the gulf could narrow quickly.

The new deal is expected to include big changes for 2013: two 15-team leagues and a new one-game wild card round for the postseason. The Astros' situation is fluid, hears Rosenthal. They're the team most likely to move to the AL if new owner Jim Crane is approved.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:16 am

Encouraging news on a potential 5-year CBA coming soon. This from SportsBusiness Daily:

MLB and the MLBPA are "making significant progress toward a five-year extension to the collective bargaining agreement that could lead to a resolution during the World Series," according to sources cited by Joe Strauss of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. While "no deal is likely before the Series moves to Texas this weekend, there is reason to believe a deal could be struck before the end of the Series and certainly before free agency opens Nov. 11." MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner "declined to say where the talks stand, but a source with knowledge of the matter confirmed that the two sides are meeting daily to discuss the 'nuts and bolts' of an extension." The union's negotiating team "includes a group of players in addition to union attorneys." Weiner "termed it 'a fair statement' that no one issue represents a massive stumbling block but added that 'there are a lot of issues' that require finalization." Strauss notes testing for HGH and the "desire by management to institute hard slotting in the first-year player draft represent core issues in these talks" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/20).

ScottieBaseball · Post by **ScottieBaseball** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:24 am

Any updates on this Greg?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:01 am

Originally posted by ScottieBaseball:

Any updates on this Greg? Not an update in the last week. I'm sure they want to get this done, but they won't upstage the World Series at this point with an announcement. Hopefully something gets done between now and Nov. 11th when free agency can start.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:14 am

Originally posted by ScottieBaseball:

Any updates on this Greg? Here's the latest on the MLB CBA from SportsBusinessJournal's Eric Fisher:

MLB Owners Expected To Vote On Astros Sale At Meetings

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

MLB owners today begin a two-day quarterly meeting in Milwaukee held concurrently with ongoing GM meetings. As has become clear in recent days, owners are expected to at last vote on the sale of the Astros to Houston-based businessman Jim Crane. The long-delayed sale, reduced to $600M, will come along with a move by the club to the AL starting in '13. The proposed realignment, baseball's first since '98, would also create interleague play throughout the season.

Discussions on a new CBA, meanwhile, continue to near a five-year agreement. But a league source last night said, "We're close but we still have a little bit of work to do yet." As a result, a formal announcement of a new labor deal is not expected while the owners are in Milwaukee.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:18 am

And the latest from Jayson Stark of ESPN.com:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/72390 ... ources-say

In this article he states the landscape change we'll have starting as early as next year in some cases:

"This deal, however, figures to be especially historic, as baseball positions itself for the 21st century. Among other things, it will pave the way for realignment of the sport into two 15-team leagues, adding a second wild-card team in each league, spreading interleague play throughout all six months of the regular season and making significant changes to the draft, free agency and the so-called "Competitive Balance Tax."

Any thoughts on all of this?

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:20 am

2013 is a long time away, but for AL-Only (12 Team Format) and NL-Only (13 Team Format) fantasy leagues, what do you think the impact of having balanced MLB leagues will be? Do you think the 12-teamer or the 13-teamer will survive?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:00 am

Originally posted by Edwards Kings:

2013 is a long time away, but for AL-Only (12 Team Format) and NL-Only (13 Team Format) fantasy leagues, what do you think the impact of having balanced MLB leagues will be? Do you think the 12-teamer or the 13-teamer will survive? I think it's obvious: Both auctions will have to consist of 12 1/2 teams!!

That's a GREAT question. I hadn't really thought about it and thankfully we have a year to consider it. As a stars and scrubs format, 13 teams makes the most sense. I think that's the way I'd be leaning, but I'm interested in everyone's feedback. Thanks.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:30 am

A 13-teamer in fantasy will have the same approximate penetration in a 15-Team MLB League as the old AL 12-teamers did. Both could be as extreme as 93% before reserves.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:15 am

Bud Selig says it's a historic day for Major League Baseball thanks to the addition of a second wild card team in each league and a 1-game playoff between the two wild card teams. Apparently that could go into place this year. What's your thoughts on that?

Houston moves to the American League in 2013, making inter-league play every game of the season now because there will be 15 teams in each league. What's your thoughts on that?

Baseball is a changin'. What do you think of that?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 3:45 am

It looks like Major League Baseball is on the verge of announcing a new five-year CBA with the Players Association. This from today's SportsBusinessDaily:

MLB Owners, Players Reportedly Agree To New Five-Year CBA

Sources said that MLB's new CBA is "done and will be announced Monday." The new five-year deal will "ensure labor peace for 21 straight years" following the '94 strike. Several GMs "already are livid over the new restraints on draft spending," and the creation of two more wild card playoff berths is "certain to spark debate." But the players and owners "understand that no issue is big enough to bring down the entire sport" (FOXSPORTS.com, 11/18).

After owner and GM meetings concluded yesterday, MLB Exec VP/Labor Relation & HR Rob Manfred said he was "really confident" of a deal being reached. That is the "most either side has said about the progress" of negotiations (WASHINGTON POST, 11/18).

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 4:04 am

Here's a solid analysis of the new CBA and baseball's new status by one of the best in the industry, FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/new- ... son-111711