Texsox

That makes sense. MLB could have pushed that by trying to get started without an agreement in place and wait for the union to strike. That may have been one of the few PR moves here that MLB got right. Make certain MLB are the villians and have the fans continue to support the players by going to games, watching games, merch, etc.

@southsider2k5 the players are locked out, what would threatening a strike do?

That should be stopped. The question was why people would be opposed to a draft. I answered that.

It hurts the players.

Like starting four years ago, even a year ago would have been nice

Reinventing the game should take a few months. It's an accomplishment they have come this far, this fast. No need to rush these decisions.

Then why is everyone so concerned about service time manipulation and getting players to free agency quicker? Or raising the minimum wage? It's almost as if they support the team owners and keeping players under team control longer.

Career earnings are determined a lot by which MLB team drafts a player. How they develop at the player's position, who else is in the organization, service time manipulations, etc. If you want players to maximize their earnings, aka salary, and lower team profits, the players need to be free agents as quickly as possible. Best of all is to eliminate the draft and make everyone a free agent immediately.

That's the current deal. Aren't they negotiating a new deal?

Everyone should be a free agent allowed to negotiate with any team.

These negotiations are just like the regular season. We've had all the April through July plodding. Now we're close to clinching a few spots. I just wish Joe West was calling the negotiations. What a circus that would be.

It only helps the owners. When players can only negotiate with one team it lowers salaries.

Players shouldn't accept a draft. It's just a way to limit the choices players have and lower salaries. The goal should be eliminated the draft for everyone, not expand it. The whole crappy system begins with a draft.

I think nothing can gets fans excited quite like pre arb bonus pool talk. Look out NFL, baseball is back as America's game. What will the "we're back together, best buddies, come on out to the ball park" press conference look like? You know there will be the grabbing each other's crotch moment explaining this was necessary for the game. We love and respect each other. Etc etc.

I think one detracts from the other. Negotiations with the season at risk is like watching Philippe Petit.

I'm liking Baseball Civil War III

ESports you're a hero.

But we wouldn't be complaining that a player wasn't be paid enough. He's only getting seven million!! The team is making too much money, give him nine million! The Sox took a player from Pittsburgh? Damn, now they won't be as competitive. I wish we wouldn't do that.

I'm guessing two weeks after this deal is done we stop caring about any of these issues.

Which market are you thinking of? If you use the local market the player is in then a player in New York or Los Angeles might be worth more than if the same player played in Cincinnati or Minneapolis. Nationally it probably doesn't matter.

Is there an equivalency between sports? Baseball players have a very long season with lots of games, football much less. Shouldn't baseball players be the highest paid athletes in any sport? Or is it the physical nature of football? Profits for the teams? Maybe each sport is so different we shouldn't compare?

Unless they calculate it gets votes in the midterm.

I'm planning an April Fools prank of announcing the end of the lockout.

Unless MLB makes huge concessions I'm fine with this dragging on. I hope the players don't feel any pressure to settle.

With fuel prices skyrocketing now would be a nice time for student loan forgiveness. Help recent college grads.