Heyman points out Jeff Passan back on Nov. 28 quoted multiple GMs saying they planned to try to wait out players to get bargain deals after players became nervous. In that article one GM even predicted that there’d be several relievers signed early, while stars would have to wait.
That article quoted one GM suggesting they’d use the CBA, which has some salary depressors such as a barely-raised luxury-tax threshold, as an excuse not to sign players early.
“Of course that’s what we’re saying,” the GM said of the threshold as a reason not to rush in. “We’d be stupid not to.”
Reading this one can't help but see some collaboration at work here.
You know hard evidence is not required to prove collusion. Evidence of conscious parallelism which reduces competition in the market in favor of the owners is enough, even if there is no formal agreement and even if participation is not 100%
https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4411&context=uclrev
Now if redoing parts of the CBA to eliminate this conscious parallelism that is disrupting the market is needed then it needs to be done now and not wait for the the scheduled date. Tony C must be gone before this.
I would suggest 6 very simple changes.
1. Increase LT threshold to 230 million and keep it at 2.3% of MLB revenue.
2. Players become FA after their age 28 season regardless of service time, or after 6 years, which ever comes first. This will get some players to MLB earlier and reduce service time manipulations
3. Limit guaranteed contracts to a players age 34 season with additional years able to be bought out at 10%
4. Playoff teams get the 11-20 picks. Middle tier teams get picks 21-30 (message - do more to win)
5. 20% of revenue sharing going to small market teams get paid out to playoff teams
6. Teams winning less than 75 games 5 years in a row lose revenue sharing dollars until they win more.
Everyone gets something. More incentive to win. Penalties for losing too much and missing playoffs