MLB proposes contract length limits, no deferrals

MLB League Primary Logo

MLB

Commissioner

Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports that Major League Baseball’s latest proposal to the Major League Baseball Player’s Association contains a limit for max contract length.

The contract limit would be five years for free agent players switching teams, and six years for players who choose to re-sign with their team. New acquisitions would be have a max salary of 15 percent of the cap in the first year. The max deal in 2027 would be five years, $202 million. The proposal also calls for an elimination for deferrals; a contention that has been brought up after the significant money deferred to players like Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Tucker over the last few years. The qualifying offer would also be removed in this new system, and players would be able to reach free agency in five years if they would have turned 30 years or older. The MLBPA will likely have a response to these proposals shortly.

– Christopher Crawford

Murakami’s return gives White Sox a ‘jolt’

James Schiano talks about the impact “rookie superstar” Munetaka Murakami can make upon his return to the Chicago White Sox, where he can strengthen Chicago on and off the field.

Related Player News

Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players

This proposal would also make college players eligible after their sophomore season and cut the bonus pool from $358.7 million to $200 million. It wouldn’t be surprising if the MLBPA agreed to this — recently drafted players don’t usually spend a lot of time at bargaining tables — in exchange for other concessions. It’s also far from a sure thing that it will happen. MLB’s proposal did say that there would be no further eliminations of minor league teams.
Nothing official from the league itself, but it sounds like the time-centered derby is dead. Drellich outlines that the revised format, which hasn’t been used since 2015, provides hitters with 20 swings in the first round and 15 swings for each of the semifinal and final rounds. Hitters get to continue on their final swing until they fail to homer. This year’s Home Run Derby will feature eight contestants at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park next month.
It was the drumbeat for most of the offseason, so this isn’t surprising, but it’s still galling to see it. A salary floor would be set at $171.2 million for MLB teams, meaning 12 teams would have to increase their payrolls while eight would have to shed to get under the cap. We’re not quite sure how likely any of this is to happen — either this or yesterday’s proposal from the MLBPA to raise the minimum salary to $1.5 million — but this will remain the backdrop as the union and ownership continue to talk ahead of the expiration of the CBA after the season.
The $1.5 million minimum salary — a significant jump from the $780,000 minimum that currently exists — is among the highlights of the initial proposal, but far from the only ask. The union proposes a “competitive-integrity tax” for any team that does not spend $150 million in their respective season. Among the other highlights are a proposed jump from $50 million to $180 million in the bonus pool, a minimum tender in arbitration of $3 million, and a jump in Super 2 players from 22 percent of the field to 44 percent. The MLB owners are expected to make their initial proposal to the player’s association Thursday.
The current CBA expires on Dec. 1, at which point MLB is widely expected to lock out the players. The league is going to argue for a salary cap system, which the players, of course, want no part of. Most likely, the lockout will linger into at least February and quite possibly March but hopefully no longer before an agreement gets done.
Meyer was already the MLBPA’s No. 2 officer and the organization’s lead negotiator, so this will keep as much continuity as possible ahead of the collective bargaining agreement’s expiration on Dec. 1. He’s being named on interim basis, according to The Athletic, but all signs point to him staying on until a new labor deal is done. Talks are slated to begin in April.
Clark and the union have been under investigation due to purported improprieties regarding the usage of licensing money. Mets’ infielder Marcus Semien, who is a member of the MLBPA executive subcommittee told reporters on Tuesday that he believes Clark’s resignation is related to the investigation into the improper use of licensing money. Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds that a full statement is expected from Clark before the end of the day on Tuesday. With baseball’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire after the 2026 season and the unrest between players and owners over the future of the game, the chances of a lockout grow increasingly likely.
It’s already the rule in the books, but enforcement of it is very scarce, and especially lately, coaches seem to be trying to get a little closer to the action in order to identify pitch tipping and potentially signal hitters. Coaches will first get a warning for any infractions and then are subject to ejection afterwards.
This announcement ensures that the trade deadline will not fall on a weekend. Last year’s deadline was on July 31, but it has changed dates in recent years. If anything, teams will have an extra couple of days to decide their direction.
Rosenthal reports that Tucker’s decision to sign with the Dodgers was “a boiling point” for owners, who are also upset about the Mets’ deal with Bo Bichette. Rosenthal suggests that “the Dodgers and Mets might be the only teams that will try to stand in the way of a cap.” The Dodgers project to have a payroll over $400 million again in 2026, but only three other teams are likely to have a payroll over $300 million, which highlights the disparity that many are worried about. Nothing is confirmed yet, but it seems painstakingly clear that we are headed for another MLB lockout.

Rotoworld

AZ
Left Fielder
#13

Player Stats

Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players

Tim Tawa went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and four RBI from the ninth spot in the order in the Diamondbacks’ 9-3 takedown of the Dodgers on Friday.
Tawa is going to be getting more time at first base with Pavin Smith off the roster, and while we’re not sure that’ll work out particularly well for the Diamondbacks, he was certainly helpful tonight. The homer was his second in 90 plate appearances this season. The 27-year-old is batting .187/.279/.307 at the moment and .197/.275/.336 in 315 plate appearances since debuting with Arizona last year.
AZ
Starting Pitcher
#57

Player Stats

Eduardo Rodriguez gave up homers to the first two batters he faced but nothing else through six innings Friday in a win over the Dodgers.
Rodriguez struck out five and walked one, making for one of his better K/BBs of the year. He’s actually had just one start this season with more than four more strikeouts than walks, yet that was in one of his three losses; he struck out six and walked none while giving up three runs in 5 1/3 innings versus the Rockies at Coors Field back in May. With the win, the first-time All-Star closes out the first half 8-3 with a 2.29 ERA.
LAD
Center Fielder
#44

Player Stats

Andy Pages went 3-for-4 with a homer versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Pages immediately followed Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff homer in the first with a second solo shot. It was his 17th homer of the year, though just his second in a month, and his 65th RBI, which is tied for eighth in the majors.
LAD
Starting Pitcher
#17

Player Stats

After being scratched from his start on the mound and the All-Star Game and the revelation that he’d have his knee drained, Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer Friday in the loss to the Diamondbacks.
Of course he did. It was one of those pretty much only he can hit, too, as he took a fastball low and a few inches inside from Eduardo Rodriguez and somehow sent it out of the opposite field. He also had a 370-foot flyout in the fifth. Ohtani has 21 homers this season. Unfortunately, with Ohtani unable to take the mound tonight, seven Dodgers relievers combined to five up nine runs in 9-3 loss.
SD
Shortstop
#2

Player Stats

Xander Bogaerts went 1-for-5 with a homer and two RBI in Friday’s loss to the Blue Jays.
Bogaerts gave the Padres an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when he sent a fastball from Shane Bieber 422 feet into deep left-center for his ninth homer of the season. Bogaerts had a chance to be the hero with two outs in the ninth inning when he stepped to the plate with runners on first and second. Unfortunately, a softly hit grounder to third ended the Padres’ hopes of a comeback. Friday marked the first homer of the month for Bogaerts, who continues to struggle at the plate. It’s still early in the month, but after a down June that saw him slash .211/.355/.237, the veteran shortstop has followed that up with a .152/.222/.303 line this month.
SD
Starting Pitcher
#38

Player Stats

JP Sears allowed three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings while striking out three, earning the loss on Friday against the Blue Jays.
Sears was gifted a two-run lead in the first inning thanks to a homer by Xander Bogaerts, but in the fifth inning, he turned that lead back over to the Blue Jays. Sears allowed two of the first three batters he faced in the inning to reach base and was relieved by Jhony Brito, who immediately gave up an RBI single to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who drove in Myles Straw to tie the game at 2-2. In the next at-bat, Brito would allow a three-run homer to Kazuma Okamoto, putting the Blue Jays up 5-2, with two of those four runs charged to Sears. During his brief stint in the Padres’ rotation, Sears has allowed three earned runs or fewer in three of his four starts. For now, we assume he’ll remain in the rotation after the All-Star Break.
TOR
Relief Pitcher
#77

Player Stats

Louis Varland allowed one earned run over one inning while striking out one to pick up the save on Friday against the Padres.
Varland had to work to pick up his 19th save of the season on Friday. After retiring the first two batters he faced, the righty allowed three straight hits, with the third being an RBI single by Jackson Merrill that drove in Luis Campusano to cut the Jays’ lead to 5-3. Varland would get Xander Bogaerts to ground out to end the threat, but the three hits he allowed are the most he has given up in any game this season. It wasn’t a pretty outing, but we’ll assume this is a one-off for Varland, whose ERA on the season now sits at 1.10 after being charged with the lone earned run.
TOR
3rd Baseman
#7

Player Stats

Kazuma Okamoto went 1-for-3 with a homer and three RBI in Friday’s win over the Padres.
Okamoto came up big for the Blue Jays in the top of the fifth inning, blasting a three-run homer off Padres starter J.P. Sears to put his team up 5-2. It was the 22nd homer of the season for Okamoto, who has now homered in two-straight games and in three of his last four. The rookie slugger also upped his RBI total to 62 on the season, as he continues to string together a solid first half before the All-Star Break.
TOR
Starting Pitcher
#57

Player Stats

Shane Bieber allowed two earned runs over 4 2/3 innings while striking out four, earning a no-decision on Friday against the Padres.
Bieber got off to a rough start in this one. After walking the second batter he faced on the night, the righty then gave up a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts to immediately put his team down 2-0. He would settle in after that, scattering just four hits and one walk over his next 3 2/3 innings of work before being pulled with two outs in the fifth inning to give the Blue Jays the left-on-left matchup with Gavin Sheets coming to the plate. Despite the rough start, it was a relatively solid outing for Bieber, who needed a bounce-back after allowing seven earned runs in his previous start. Bieber is still rounding into form after missing nearly three months due to injury. He’s allowed two earned runs in two of his four starts this season and should be poised for a strong second half of the season.
BOS
Starting Pitcher
#54

Player Stats

Sonny Gray allowed five hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts over six innings to earn the win in a 6-2 triumph over the Mets on Friday.
Meant to be tired after the Red Sox’s travel woes between Thursday and Friday, Gray lulled the Mets to sleep here. He didn’t have anything close to his best swing-and-miss stuff and only forced two whiffs, but showed great command of his sinker and used it to wriggle out of a few jams with some timely double plays. After this excellent start, he’ll close the first half with a 2.54 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 24 walks across 95 2/3 innings. That is the lowest ERA by a qualified pitcher that did not make either All-Star team.

Lawanda Mote
Read More

News You Can USe!

News You Can USe!

MLB proposes contract length limits, no deferrals

Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports that Major League Baseball’s latest proposal to the Major League Baseball Player’s Association contains a limit for max contract length.

Related Player News

Rotoworld

Tim Tawa went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and four RBI from the ninth spot in the order in the Diamondbacks’ 9-3 takedown of the Dodgers on Friday.

Eduardo Rodriguez gave up homers to the first two batters he faced but nothing else through six innings Friday in a win over the Dodgers.

Andy Pages went 3-for-4 with a homer versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.

After being scratched from his start on the mound and the All-Star Game and the revelation that he’d have his knee drained, Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer Friday in the loss to the Diamondbacks.

Xander Bogaerts went 1-for-5 with a homer and two RBI in Friday’s loss to the Blue Jays.

JP Sears allowed three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings while striking out three, earning the loss on Friday against the Blue Jays.

Louis Varland allowed one earned run over one inning while striking out one to pick up the save on Friday against the Padres.

Kazuma Okamoto went 1-for-3 with a homer and three RBI in Friday’s win over the Padres.

Shane Bieber allowed two earned runs over 4 2/3 innings while striking out four, earning a no-decision on Friday against the Padres.

Sonny Gray allowed five hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts over six innings to earn the win in a 6-2 triumph over the Mets on Friday.

Latest

Bitcoin could bottom in October, altcoins are ‘basically dead,’ Swan CEO says

Norway Holds $400M in Bitcoin via Indirect Stock Exposure

Israel’s Largest Bank to Offer Bitcoin, Ether and Solana Trading With Galaxy in 2027

Chainlink Bull Market Returns as Analyst Targets $11 for LINK

Newsletter

Don't miss

Bitcoin could bottom in October, altcoins are ‘basically dead,’ Swan CEO says

Norway Holds $400M in Bitcoin via Indirect Stock Exposure

Israel’s Largest Bank to Offer Bitcoin, Ether and Solana Trading With Galaxy in 2027

Chainlink Bull Market Returns as Analyst Targets $11 for LINK

Cboe SEC Approval Sought for 3x Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs

What small business owners say they’d do differently, in hindsight

Bright young business brains bring ideas to life

No, no, no — business travel is not dead. It’s still moving, and rather well at that