Forty Under 40

Photo by: JESSICA FOSTER / MLB

Major League Baseball’s new five-year labor deal arrived late last year after virtually no public discord between players and management, but arguably with the most sweeping set of changes ever to hit the game. From how amateur talent is acquired to the postseason format, realignment to new competitive balance tax structures, the new agreement is rife with major alterations to the game’s rules and regulations.

Chris Park, the league’s deputy general counsel and vice president for labor economics, quietly played a significant role helping Commissioner Bud Selig; Rob Manfred, MLB executive vice president; and MLB’s labor policy committee develop its bargaining proposals and construct the deal. In particular, Park provided substantial insight on player benefits and compensation, revenue sharing and the competitive balance tax.

Park’s wide scope of duties also includes MLB efforts to curb dangerous shattering of maple bats, assisting clubs on player arbitration proceedings, and labor negotiations with other entities such as the World Umpires Association.

“This labor deal included a very comprehensive set of changes that were the product of a concerted effort to improve the working relationship between the two sides, and the working conditions for players and clubs alike,” Park said. “There are several new things in this agreement that will have very far-reaching effects.”