Major League Baseball withdrew its plan for more limited salary arbitration on Tuesday, a day after the union withdrew its demand for greater free agent eligibility.
In the second straight day of talks aimed at an agreement to end a lockout that started Dec. 2, clubs also accepted the union’s framework to funnel additional money to pre-arbitration-eligible players from central revenue, offering a $10 million pool based on awards and WAR. The union has asked for $105 million for the group, usually about 30 players annually.
In addition, management increased its offer to increase the minimum salary for players with less than one year of major league service from $600,000 to $615,000, but with a provision teams couldn’t pay more than that amount. Players have proposed a $775,000 minimum next year, up from $570,500.
Management also withdrew its proposal that would have delinked pensions from inflation, which under the current plan results in automatic increases.
Details of the roughly one-hour bargaining session were disclosed by a pair of people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because no public statements were authorized.
Given the sides didn’t even speak about central economic issues for six weeks before talks resumed Jan. 13, incremental progress over two days was positive as the bickering sides try to end baseball’s ninth work stoppage and first since 1995.
Still, time is dwindling before the scheduled start of spring training on Feb. 16. Opening Day on March 31 will be threatened if there is not a deal by the end of next month.
The sides agreed to continue negotiating on noncore issues while the union deliberates its next step on the bigger economic components.
Teams at first proposed to eliminate arbitration for all players and earlier this month limited the plan to getting rid of it for the so-called “super 2s,” the 22% of players who are eligible with at least two seasons of major league service but less than three.
Players want to increase arbitration eligibility to all players with two years of major league service, its level from 1974-86. They also want to cut revenue sharing by what the union estimates is $30 million annually, which if accomplished likely would increase spending by large-market teams.
Clubs says they will not consider changes to arbitration or alterations that would lower revenue sharing, and they dispute the union’s revenue sharing projection.
Players want new structures to address alleged service time manipulation and increased roster teardowns in recent seasons by rebuilding teams. Teams proposed that any player called up in August or September who remained eligible for Rookie of the Year the following season would count toward extra amateur draft picks under their plan aimed to address service time.
Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem, Executive Vice President Morgan Sword, Senior Vice President Patrick Houlihan and Vice President Reed MacPhail represented the clubs.
Bruce Meyer, the union’s senior director of collective bargaining and legal, headed the players’ delegation, which also included general counsel Ian Penny and deputy general counsel Matt Nussbaum. While Tuesday’s meeting was limited to a small group, 25-30 players joined in by Zoom on Wednesday.
Reliever Andrew Miller and Colorado Rockies CEO Dick Monfort were at Monday’s session but did not attend Tuesday.
CUBS: The Chicago Cubs announced that Matt Dorey is taking on the role of vice president of player personnel.
Dorey’s new title is part of a flurry of changes in Chicago’s front office since Carter Hawkins was hired as general manager in October.
Dorey is beginning his 12th season with the Cubs after he joined the organization as a national crosschecker in 2012. He had been the vice president of player development since November 2020.
The Cubs also announced that Jared Banner is taking on Dorey’s previous position. Banner joined the team prior to last season as VP of special projects.
Banner, who played college ball at Amherst, also has worked for the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox.
Andrew Bassett, Garrett Chiado and Chris Jones also got new titles. Bassett was promoted to director of pro scouting and special assistant to President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer and Hawkins. Chiado is director of pro analytics, and Jones was promoted to director of research and development.
WHITE SOX: The Chicago White Sox added another name to their rich Cuban history when they announced they had agreed to a contract with outfielder Oscar Colas.
Considered one of the top international free agents, Colas received a $2.7 million signing bonus. The team also announced it had agreed to terms with outfielder Erick Hernandez that included a $1 million bonus.
Colas, 23, is from Santiago de Cuba. He bats and throws left-handed and hit .282 with 28 homers and 116 RBI in 187 games over his foreign league career.
Colas also has worked as a pitcher, but Marco Paddy, an executive for international operations for the White Sox, said he will concentrate on developing him as an outfielder.
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