The MLBPA has “laid out its own proposal for the amateur draft” as part of discussions for a new CBA, according to J.J. Cooper of BASEBALL AMERICA. While MLB’s proposal would “dramatically change” the amateur entry program, the MLBPA’s counterproposal “revolves around keeping much of the current system in place with some added tweaks.” The MLBPA proposed “maintaining the current 20-round draft format and eligibility rules for high school and junior college players while also expanding draft eligibility for all college sophomores.” While MLB’s proposal included “reducing the amount of money spent in draft bonuses by roughly half,” the MLBPA’s proposal would “increase signing bonuses while keeping the bonus pool system that currently allows teams to shift spending around their draft while staying within the total parameters of the draft bonus pool.” The player’s union also proposed “reducing the taxes and penalties handed out if teams exceed their signing bonus pool.” Currently, teams pay only a financial penalty for exceeding their bonus pool allotment by less than 5%. So far, “no team has been willing to suffer the draft pick penalties that come with exceeding their spending by 5% or more.” The MLBPA’s proposal would add “draft benefits for smaller revenue teams.” That would include “giving small-revenue teams automatic increases to their bonus pools if they qualify for the playoffs while also continuing the competitive balance pick system.” MLB’s plans, on the other hand, would “eliminate competitive balance picks as part of its broader salary cap proposal.” The MLBPA also proposed “returning the draft to June” (BASEBALL AMERICA, 7/21).
OTHER MATTERS: THE ATHLETIC’s Evan Drellich reported the players also “want to bring back major-league contracts for draftees.” The union proposed that “revenue-sharing recipients can sign two players to big-league deals over the 2027-31 span.” They “did not address the other piece of amateur entry, the international draft.” Back in 2022, the players were “on board with the concept of an international draft -- a notable development -- but the sides weren’t able to work out the specifics back then.” Inside the industry, however, the progress made on an international draft last time was an “indication for many that this go-around, the sides might eventually find common ground on that topic” (THE ATHLETIC, 7/21).
