MLB’s CBA process rolled forward Wednesday with the MLBPA making proposals in areas that “could directly affect the way teams build their rosters,” according to Evan Drellich of THE ATHLETIC. The union wants to “expand big-league roster sizes to 28 from the present 26 for the first 15 days of every regular season.” It also wants to “allow limited trading opportunities after that deadline.” In addition, the players “asked for the trade deadline to be moved up a bit,” to a window between July 21-27. Currently, the commissioner’s office chooses a date annually between July 28 and Aug. 3. The union asked to “allow ‘outrighted’ players” to be “tradeable once the deadline has passed.” Other parts of the proposal aimed at reducing roster churn. However, owners will also be “hesitant to reduce those freedoms.” On the other side of the table, the league made proposals Wednesday “regarding the joint drug agreement.” MLB wants to “ban additional substances from the sport, and to increase the ability to communicate with teams when a player has a pending positive test.” The sides are not expected to have another meeting prior to the All-Star break in mid-July (THE ATHLETIC, 7/1).
MLBPA proposes several changes to CBA with roster size, trades taking focus
