For the New York Yankees and the other 29 MLB teams, even though it’s early in the offseason non the less they are scurrying about checking on who is available to fill the spots on their teams that need to be filled. They also have to figure out how many will be done by cash and how many by trades they can come up with. But Just a few weeks from now a major hurdle in the offseason must be leaped over, that’s the GMA that caused the players to go on strike in 1994.
General Manager Brian Cashman has made it public that after a failed experiment with Gleyber Torres at shortstop, his main priority this off-season is to get a quality tried and true shortstop for the club. However, every baseball fan must know that when Cashman and company sit down together to decide what to do about shortstop and second base, there will be a giant grey elephant sitting in the room. His name is MLB CBA.
That is short for Collective bargaining agreement; basically, the owners and players come together to decide who will make the most money over the next term. No one wants to lose that battle, but one side of the issues must lose, and for the last several years, it has been the players. To steal a phrase, I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Most industry sources are saying the mood is this year’s talks that have a December 4 deadline.
Now a bit more than three weeks away, the deadline approaches. There has been very little leaked out of the talks, mostly due to keeping it in the boardroom is to the benefit of all. But this week, MLB has put forth an idea that has been brought up more than once. It’s a change from arbitration, being replaced by a so-called pay by performance. An amount of money would be spread out among the eligible players, and then instead of raises by arbitration, they would be given out by WAR or performance. It sounds a bit like a salary cap for those players, something the Players Union has rejected time and time again.
Considering recent relations between Commissioner Rob Manfred, MLBPA director Tony Clark and the owners, expect a difficult time ahead. Although finding that shortstop, centerfielder, and starting pitcher for the New York Yankees may be a problem getting past the GBA may be the most challenging. Another lock-out or player strike would be devastating to baseball.