It’s here, the MLB off season.

It’s here, Free Agency has started.

It’s here, Trade Rumors are flying.

It’s here too..the verbal gunfire, MLB vs Union over the potential of a work stoppage.

Flashback to May, the two sides made opening proposals about what a new CBA might look like, the revenue sharing, changes in free agency, a different type of TV packaging.

And of course the Owner’s statement, we want a SALARY CAP.

And of course the Union’s response, WE WILL DIE ON THE HILL-NO CAP.

So months and months later, with a December 1st lockout of all things baseball coming, MLB makes a new offer, gift wrapped differently, but with the same bow atop the package.

Rob Manfred proposed MLB would accept alot of the Union’s ideas about increased pay, changes in some forms of free agency, arbitration rules, elimination of free agent qualifying offers, and other assorted items.  

The owners maintained some of their spring proposals, 100% TV money goes into the pot of gold…there will be a 12-round international draft with salary slots, a 12-round amateur draft with slots plus a ban on high school players being in that amateur draft.

And of course, a SALARY CAP and a FLOOR to spending, that would start in 2028 along with a formula to ‘Grandfather in’ the teams that would be over the cap.

The cap would kick in at (258M) a slight bump from the first offer.  The floor would start at an impressive (180M).  Rob Manfred’s rule means 8 teams would have to cut payroll.  12-teams would have to radically increase spending.

The Union Response was what I expected…’YOU’RE NOT CAPPING YOUR PROFITS…WE’RE NOT CAPPING PLAYERS SALARIES’.

And then Bruce Meyer reminded Rob Manfred, ‘We’re not negotiating on any specific issues, until you to take the Salary Cap-Floor to Spending clauses out of the talks’.

The Union maintains the proposals mean more profits and more franchise values for the owners, restrictive movement and salary increases for players.

What they should be doing is talking about each specific financial issue each proposed-some of which seem to have value.  Work your way up the ladder from now till spring training opens.  If you reach an agreement on how to split the big financial pie, that is growing, then you do not need a salary cap.

Both sides are selfish.  Both sides are dug in.  Both sides are ignoring the record revenue growth, attendance and TV ratings they have built over the last five years.

Why would you do anything to disrupt all that.

Time to realize this is a PARTNERSHIP not a DICTATORSHIP.

If they don’t talk between now and the start of the Cactus League-Grapefruit Circuit, then there will be a body on the hill, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, killed by the nuclear weapon, a SALARY CAP.

An offseason will become a NUCLEAR WINTER with Baseball fatalities.

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