MLB Cancels Another Week Of Regular Season Games After The Two Sides Fail To Come To An Agreement On The International Draft
I mean this is fucking infuriating. I've been pretty pro players during this entire saga, but I think I've reached my point of frustration where I'm getting annoyed with their side of the table. Once again last night it seemed we were on the brink of a deal, only to wake up today to it all falling apart. Shoot me.
Over the last few days legitimate progress had been made on the CBT, the minimum salary, and pre-arb bonus pool. Were they all the way there? No, but there was enough concession on both sides to see the light at the end of the tunnel no question.
So what's the hold up? Why the further cancellation of games today? Well of course this nightmare had to come up with another fucking obstacle. The owner's International Draft vs. the players' elimination of the qualifying offer system. Here were the three options presented to the MLBPA.
None were taken and the owners told them to fuck off. The players' side believe the international draft is something that should take a while to set up and not be rushed into place, if at all. The current process allows players to sign with any team, but is restricted financially with a hard cap per organization. The new draft would reportedly open up more money for international talent.
I honestly don't see why option 2 wasn't taken by the players here. If you're that against the international draft at this time then be willing to keep the qualifying offer system as it is. How many players does that possibly impact every season? 15-20? That's what we're held up on now that everyone is walking away from the table? Now we don't have the first two weeks of the MLB regular season. Awesome.
The union better get together and figure out an answer for the international draft. It's something that's many have seen coming for a while now and to me makes sense to implement. If it's really that big of a sticking point, then ease up on the qualifying offer stuff. The fact that we've reached the point where the CBT levels, minimum salary, and pre-arb bonus pool are all within striking distance of a compromise, but this draft/QO shit can't get the deal done makes me wanna die inside.
Figure it the fuck out.