http://mlb.mlb.com/n...ws_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached a preliminary agreement on a new Basic Agreement. The five-year deal was officially announced on Tuesday afternoon at a news conference.

The new deal through the 2016 season gives MLB a span of 21 years of labor peace since the strike-shortened 1994 season and delayed start of the '95 season. The current CBA, which was signed without any rancor in 2006, was set to expire on Dec. 11. The new agreement needs to be formalized in writing and ratified independently by the players and owners.

"I am thrilled for the fans that the clubs and the players of Major League Baseball, together, have the opportunity to further build on our game's unprecedented popularity," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "Labor peace has proven essential to the best interests of baseball and its millions of fans, who have attended our ballparks in historic numbers over the last eight years. During this remarkable era, we have seen outstanding competitive balance, record business performance and a seamless transition to the new modes in which fans want to embrace our sport. I truly believe the best is yet to come for the game we love."

 

The process, which started in January, marked a seamless and successful initial go-round at the bargaining table between negotiators representing the owners and the players represented for the first time by executive director Michael Weiner, who took over that position from Don Fehr nearly two years ago.

It could be the last CBA for Selig, who has said he will retire when his current contract expires at the end of 2012. If he does, he will have overseen three consecutive labor negotiations -- 2002, '06 and '11 -- without a strike or lockout.

Before that, all eight labor negotiations from 1972 to 1994 were marked by work stoppages.

The new CBA will include a raise in the minimum salary from $414,000 this year to $480,000 in 2012, and ultimately to more than $500,000; blood testing for human growth hormone as early as next spring, with a 50-game suspension for a first failed test; a luxury tax on teams that spend above an agreed-upon figure for players signed through the annual First-Year Player Draft; and changes in Draft-pick compensation for the signing of ranked free agents.

Tuesday's news conference capped a week full of positive announcements for Selig, who has overseen numerous changes to baseball since taking over as interim Commissioner in 1992, including the advent of the Wild Card and the Division Series, Interleague Play, the use of instant replay and the constantly expanding testing and penalties for the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

On Thursday, at their final joint quarterly meeting of the year, the owners approved the transfer of the Houston Astros from outgoing owner Drayton McLane to a group headed by Houston businessman Jim Crane. With that, Selig announced that the Astros would move from the National League Central to the American League West in 2013 and that two more Wild Card teams would be added to the playoff mix as early as next season. The Wild Card teams in each league would most likely face each other in a one-game playoff to advance to the Division Series.

Both changes announced last week were resolved in collective bargaining because they involved scheduling. It will be the first change in the postseason since the Wild Cards were added and MLB went to a three-division format in both leagues in 1994. It will be the first realignment since the Brewers moved from the AL to the NL in 1998, ushering in the era of Interleague Play.

Weiner said this past summer that the players were largely in favor of evening the two leagues at 15 teams apiece, with each of the six divisions holding five teams, for competitive-balance reasons.

Although Weiner has long been involved in baseball negotiations as one of the union's top legal counsels, this was his first as its chief. In 2006, when Fehr was still at the helm, negotiations began in June and a five-year deal was done behind the scenes and announced in St. Louis during that year's World Series. These negotiations were the third spearheaded by Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president of labor relations and human resources.

 

DISCUSS

I like the new wildcard change. Any argument people have with regards to a wildcard race between 1st place and 2nd place being lost because they both have spots is beyond me. You open up the possibility of a race between 2nd and 3rd place teams. As long as they don't get carried away and add more wildcard teams, I think it's fine.

 

My only concern is the new playoff structure. I'd prefer a best of 3 series between the two wildcard teams. I think this greatly improves our chances of making the playoffs next year, if we really are serious about signing these impact players.

DISCUSS

 

 

This font is too small, therefore I have nothing to say.

 

 

Pretty awesome that Selig has negotiated 3 CBAs without any missed time.

How about the expansion of instant replay to fair/foul balls and "trapped" balls?

Interesting changes made to the draft...

I'd like to see the Division series expanded to 7 games....I guess the new WC game isn't to upsetting. One game playoff isn't bad.

I'm pleased to know all those anti-tobacco are like "WHAAAAT?!" yeah...go cry, players can still use tobacco on the field.

I like the wildcard one off...though you gotta admit it would've severely dulled the final night of the 2011 regular season. all those games at once...that was awesome.

I'm pleased to know all those anti-tobacco are like "WHAAAAT?!" yeah...go cry, players can still use tobacco on the field.

 

First of all, wtf??

 

Second, you can be anti-tobacco and not be that worried about what professional baseball players do on the field. But, by all means, let's cheer that people can now continue to damage their own bodies and glorify the consumption of toxic substances on baseball fields.

 

Third, they actually broadened the restrictions on tobacco use at baseball-related functions.

 

There are so many options, but you just might sneak onto my ballot.

I'm pleased to know all those anti-tobacco are like "WHAAAAT?!" yeah...go cry, players can still use tobacco on the field.

 

First of all, wtf??

 

Second, you can be anti-tobacco and not be that worried about what professional baseball players do on the field. But, by all means, let's cheer that people can now continue to damage their own bodies and glorify the consumption of toxic substances on baseball fields.

 

Third, they actually broadened the restrictions on tobacco use at baseball-related functions.

 

There are so many options, but you just might sneak onto my ballot.

I have never chewed tobacco in my life, but I am completely against a ban. The ban was suggested by members of congress. Members of congress need to stay the hell out of it and stop trying to take away rights. It is each individuals choice, or right to put the known chemicals in their body.

I'm pleased to know all those anti-tobacco are like "WHAAAAT?!" yeah...go cry, players can still use tobacco on the field.

 

First of all, wtf??

 

Second, you can be anti-tobacco and not be that worried about what professional baseball players do on the field. But, by all means, let's cheer that people can now continue to damage their own bodies and glorify the consumption of toxic substances on baseball fields.

 

Third, they actually broadened the restrictions on tobacco use at baseball-related functions.

 

There are so many options, but you just might sneak onto my ballot.

I have never chewed tobacco in my life, but I am completely against a ban. The ban was suggested by members of congress. Members of congress need to stay the hell out of it and stop trying to take away rights. It is each individuals choice, or right to put the known chemicals in their body.

How does that disagree with anything I said?

What the hell is this sh*t now?

I'm pleased to know all those anti-tobacco are like "WHAAAAT?!" yeah...go cry, players can still use tobacco on the field.

 

First of all, wtf??

 

Second, you can be anti-tobacco and not be that worried about what professional baseball players do on the field. But, by all means, let's cheer that people can now continue to damage their own bodies and glorify the consumption of toxic substances on baseball fields.

 

Third, they actually broadened the restrictions on tobacco use at baseball-related functions.

 

There are so many options, but you just might sneak onto my ballot.

I have never chewed tobacco in my life, but I am completely against a ban. The ban was suggested by members of congress. Members of congress need to stay the hell out of it and stop trying to take away rights. It is each individuals choice, or right to put the known chemicals in their body.

How does that disagree with anything I said?

It doesn't, necessarily. I was just elaborating on tobacco usage, and venting at the same time.

What the hell is this sh*t now?

 

Oooooooooooo, you said a bad worrrrrrd.

Can someone explain this tweet for me from dan bernstein

 

MLB CBA widely considered a disaster. Total shock to the system. As @joe_sheehan put it, "'Moneyball' died" with the sweeping changes.