Latest MLB labor proposal revamps free agent timelines, in-season roster rules

Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on December 1, leading to the potential lockout of players, similar to the situation in 2021. The league’s recent proposal seeks to introduce a quiet period for signings, limiting free agent movement to a few weeks in December. According to Associated Press, this extension of the quiet period would continue until noon Eastern on the Monday of the winter meetings, usually held in early December.

Management stated that this extra time was necessary to finalize revenue and salary cap figures ahead of the business season. Free agents would be able to negotiate during this period but would not be permitted to finalize contracts.

An adjustment to the injured list is another aspect of the league’s proposal. The 10-day minimum stay for position players would be replaced with a one-week designation, while the 15-day pitcher injury list would become a two-week designation. However, teams would have to count Mondays when calculating these periods. For instance, if a position player goes on the injured list on Wednesday, they would still need to stay on the list for the entirety of the following week, Monday-to-Monday. The 60-day injury list would be extended to 12 weeks and would still release a 40-man roster spot.

Teams would still be restricted to a maximum of 26 active players, but the proposal allows them to carry 14 pitchers, one more than currently allowed. The ongoing negotiations are contingent on the players accepting a salary cap and floor, as reported by Marc Normandin of Baseball Prospectus. While some may hope for more player transactions during the offseason, the current proposal removes the uncertainty of players waiting until spring to sign.

This proposal is unlikely to lead to serious negotiations until after the owners lock out the players in December, as stated by Marc Normandin.