Detroit – On a wintry Sunday night at Comerica Park, the ice continued to melt in one of this country’s most acrimonious labor wars. Baseball players and owners reached a tentative agreement on a five-year collective bargaining agreement as first reported by The Associated Press and confirmed to The Denver Post.
A union source familiar with the talks said Sunday a deal was being finalized and predicted an announcement Tuesday before Game 3 of the World Series in St. Louis.
Momentum for a harmonious CBA, which was scheduled to expire midnight on Dec. 19, began building over the winter when the two sides partnered in the World Baseball Classic. This symbolized a new phase in their relationship – the CBA was twice reopened to address the steroids policy – which had been defined by bitterness and led to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series.
“For this to happen without any problems is a positive check mark for the sport,” Rockies pitcher Jason Jennings said Sunday. “It didn’t make any sense to drag this out with all the positives in the game right now. It would be like arguing over which is the better red wine to serve over dinner.”
Unprecedented financial growth paved smooth negotiations that were held discreetly during the past several months. Commissioner Bud Selig talked repeatedly about how good business has been in the past decade, pointing to parity and more profits. Baseball experienced record attendance this season and is expected to eclipse $5 billion in revenue, according to Selig.
For the most part, the key staples of the current CBA will be extended. Revenue sharing will increase and the luxury tax remains in place. Possible revisions include the elimination of compensatory draft picks for second-tier free agents lost and spikes in the minimum salary from the current $327,000.
The sides had previously adopted a new drug policy 11 months ago, increasing the penalties for steroids use, while banning amphetamines for the first time.
“We don’t want work stoppages. That’s no fun for anybody. We are all pretty happy with the way things are going,” St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jason Isringhausen said. “The feeling was that we should keep this direction going. We don’t want to go back. I don’t think anybody is hurting right now.”
Added Cardinals player representative Braden Looper, “I think this shows that both sides are willing to give and willing to listen to each other.”
Selig has praised the effect of the revenue sharing, negotiated in 2002 minutes before the players were set to strike. It was designed to create competitive balance. Ten teams have played for the World Series beginning with the 2001 championship.
“We don’t take a back seat to anyone when it comes to parity anymore,” Selig said.
Inequities still exist. The New York Yankees doled out $200 million in player salaries, compared to $15 million by the gutted Florida Marlins. And every team ranked in the bottom third of 2006 payrolls, the Rockies among them, finished with a losing record.
But those numbers run contrary to the game’s overall health.
“Baseball is at an all-time high point right now,” Detroit Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe said. “You’ve got low-market teams doing well and different teams winning every year. Getting this done couldn’t have come at a better time.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
