Major League Baseball owners are considering locking out players when the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Rosenthal, citing sources with knowledge of the situation, said the owners' frustration comes from the MLB Players Association's lack of urgency in negotiations.
A lockout would put all baseball business on hold, meaning no free agents would be able to sign contracts. The winter meetings, where most of those negotiations take place, are scheduled for Dec. 4-8.
"We remain committed to the idea that we're going to make an agreement before expiration," said commissioner Rob Manfred, while the players' union head, Tony Clark, declined comment.
Negotiations should continue next week at the players' annual meeting in Dallas.
On potential for lockout when CBA expires 12/1, Manfred just told me this: “In terms of trying to make a deal 10 days is plenty of time,”
— @Joelsherman1
Union/MLB negotiated until late this afternoon. Players have annual meeting Mon-Wed in Dallas next week, bargaining to continue thru that
— @Joelsherman1
According to Rosenthal, a few of the major sticking points are:
- Changes to the Joint Drug Agreement, with players wanting a stronger program during the season
- The threshold and size of penalties in regards to the competitive-balance tax
- Direct draft-pick compensation in free agency
- The implementation of an international draft
Rosenthal reported that owners offered a straight exchange, telling players they would eliminate the direct draft-pick compensation tied to players who reject qualifying offers if players would allow for an international draft. The players reportedly rejected that proposal.
The issue with an international draft stems from the players' belief that foreign-born players do not have the same opportunities as American-born amateurs.
"We aren't giving them something that affects 30 per cent of big leaguers and probably 50 per cent of minor leaguers in exchange for something that affects less than 20 players every year," Rosenthall quoted one union source.
Only 10 players received qualifying offers this season.
An international draft would allow teams to pay foreign amateurs less money.
The last time MLB had a work stoppage was the strike in 1994, when the season was cancelled in August, marking the first time the World Series wasn't played since 1904.
The strike lasted 232 days, ending in April 1995.
MLB owners considering lockout: report
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