Hello, Camden Chatters.
Finally, there are signs of life in negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA for a new collective bargaining agreement. But according to initial reports, the latest talks are not enough to bridge the gap between the two sides.
Yesterday, after weeks without formal discussions between owners and players, the league presented a proposal on fundamental economic issues such as eligibility for arbitration and the manipulation of service time. The Athletic’s Evan Drellich and ESPN’s Jeff Passan, among others, laid out the basics of what MLB’s offer entailed, including:
- expand the playoff field to 14 teams;
- establishing a universal DH;
- eliminate arbitration for Super Two players and instead use a formula to determine their salaries;
- the implementation of a draft lottery for the first three picks, in which a team would not be eligible to be part of the lottery for three consecutive seasons;
- rewarding an additional draft pick to teams that place a top-100 prospect on their Opening Day roster if the player wins a major award within three years.
The MLBPA was baffled by the league’s offer, according to Drellich and Passan, with the latter writing that the proposals “did little to encourage players and increased the likelihood that spring training would be postponed. “. Players were also reportedly unhappy that MLB’s offer suggested no changes to crucial economic issues such as free agency, league minimum wages or the competitive balance tax.
The union is expected to “hold internal discussions about how to respond” to MLB’s offer, Drellich writes, but no follow-up discussions have yet been scheduled. It’s good news that the parties are back at the bargaining table, at least, but there’s still a long way to go. Time is running out if a deal is to be reached before the scheduled start of spring training next month.
Connections
2022 Baltimore Orioles fan survey: What you think of the club’s rebuilding, prospects and future – The Athletic
How do you feel about the Orioles these days, guys? Take Dan Connolly’s survey to make your voice heard.
Aaron Judge and Vlad Guerrero scare the Orioles into rolling back the fences – Deadspin
Somewhere, Gleyber Torres is offended to have been excluded from this title.
O’s will take the BP program from minors to majors – Steve Melewski
Co-hitter coach Ryan Fuller discusses some of the new batting practice techniques the Orioles hope to implement in the majors this year, including pitch-biting practice, which I’ve never heard of it but that sounds cool.
MLB’s most heartbreaking prospect flops of the past decade | Launderer’s report
I knew there would be an Oriole on this list. I didn’t know which one.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is it your birthday today? Happy Birthday! Two former Orioles were born that day: 1984-85 infielder Wayne Gross (70) and 1990 southpaw/frontiersman Danny Boone (68).
On this day in 1963, the Orioles and White Sox pulled off a mega-trade involving two future Hall of Famers, with knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm traveling to Chicago for shortstop Luis Aparicio. The O’s also threw former Rookie of the Year Ron Hansen and two others into the deal. The four players the Orioles traded went on to have solid careers with the White Sox — especially Wilhelm, whose career spanned another decade even though he was 39 at the time of the trade — but the Birds have got what they needed in Aparicio, who teamed up with fellow Gold Glover Brooks Robinson on the left side of Baltimore’s infield and was a key part of the 1966 World Series champions.
And on this day in 1993, the O’s acquired fellow Hall of Famer Harold Baines from two-minor league athletics. The Maryland native posted a .301/.379/.502 batting line with 107 home runs and 378 RBIs in three stints with the Orioles.
