After 99 days in between labor impasses, baseball came back. On Wednesday, it was announced that the MLB and MLPA came to an agreement on a new Collective barging agreement that goes until 2026. The deal includes the luxury tax rising from $210 million to $230 million for 2022, and would hit $244 million by 2026. It also featured expanded playoffs where 12 teams(6 from each league) would qualify instead of 10. As for the pre arbitration bonus pool, teams can spread out $50 million to star youngsters in their first couple years in the big leagues before they’re eligible for arbitration, where they can bargain for their own salary. To prevent teams from tanking, their will be a draft lottery for the top six picks prior to the new 20 round amateur draft, which currently doesn’t include international players, as the players and owners have agreed to wait until July 25th to work something out on a rule that would kick in prior to the 2024 campaign. As for other rule changes, MLB must give a 45 day notice to players beforehand, and those 2023 rumors of larger bases, 20 second pitch clock and banning the shift must be approved by the newfound “rules committee” who will meet following the 2022 season to finalize those rules. Last but not least, the universal DH is now permanent, and will be required for the NL too.
This leaves us with a March 17th start date for Spring training games, and an April 7th opening day where a new 162 game season(Albeit a week late) will begin. MLB announced they will add extra days in October to make up for the week of games they missed due to the lockout. After players and fans partied and hardied on social media, free agency began, and the moves have begun to come flying in.
The first big domino to fall was Carlos Rodon, as the San Francisco Giants swiped him up on a 2 year $44 million deal that includes a player option. The lefty is coming off a career best year, where he posted a 2.37ERA in 24 starts and 132.2 innings(6 innings per start). The other major move thus far came via trade as the Mets acquired all-star starter Chris Bassit from the A’s in exchange for two irrelevant at least for now prospects. The move means the Mets boast a formidable starting rotation of Jacob Degrom, Max Scherzer, Chris Bassit, Carlos Carrasco, and Tajuan Walker. The team also agreed to a 1 year $4 million pact with Adam Ottavino for bullpen relief. When you look at what kind of offseason this team has had, also adding Starling Marte, Mark Cahana, and Eduardo Escobar with Buck Showalter at the helm, the Mets are threatening to take over NY for the 2022 season.
STILL TO COME:
World Series champion Braves slugger and 1B Freddie Freeman is expected to make a move tonight. Let’s see what transpires for the biggest free agent on the market.
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