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MLBPA Proposes Expanded Draft Rules as Talks Move Toward Lockout

The union's package preserves 20 rounds, protects slot values and boosts signing pools for lower‑revenue clubs to block owners' proposed cuts.

Overview

  • The union, which presented its draft package Tuesday, proposed adding college sophomores to eligibility, returning the draft to June and keeping a 20‑round format.
  • The MLBPA asked that slot values continue to rise with industry revenue through 2027 and that teams retain the ability to negotiate signing bonuses instead of accepting fixed slots.
  • The proposal would ease penalties for exceeding signing bonus pools, give targeted $1–2 million pool boosts to revenue‑sharing recipient clubs and let some teams sign select draftees to major‑league contracts.
  • Players agreed to a limited window for trading picks but proposed only the first 10 rounds be tradable and set rules to prevent teams from hoarding early selections.
  • Owners still favor cutting eligibility and reducing rounds and have pushed for a hard salary cap since May, the standoff means a management lockout is likely when the CBA expires on Dec. 1 and could disrupt the offseason and start of spring training.