MLB Reportedly Proposes 'Drastic Changes' to Offseason Schedule, Free-Agency in New CBA Proposal

Major League Baseball is proposing a dramatic change to the league's offseason schedule regarding when teams can and can't sign free agents, per ESPN's Jeff Passan, who broke it down:

• "A free agent dead period until the first day of the Winter Meetings in early December in which players and teams can negotiate but no deals can be signed. Trades would be allowed during this period."
• "Free agency would open the Monday the Winter Meetings begin and would close Dec. 21."
• "From Dec. 21 through the first Monday in February, no free agent signings or trades would be allowed."
• "Free agents could sign and trades would be allowed again from the first Monday in February onward."

Bob Nightengale of USA Today provided more information.

Speaking of an apparent player union rejection, MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer had this to say on the matter, per Passan. In short, it's clear the players' union isn't in favor here.

"The league, through their propaganda arm, is promoting their latest set of roster and transaction proposals as player-friendly.

"MLB expressly conditioned these proposals on the players' agreement to a salary cap system, which would drastically reduce overall player compensation, eliminate fully guaranteed contracts through escrow, and turn back the clock on fundamental player rights.

"Their latest proposals regarding free agency would eliminate Player rights by establishing an artificial free agency window, subject to a salary cap, which would reduce player leverage and create a game of musical chairs pitting player vs. player.

"The suggestion that the only way to limit roster churn, or incentivize earlier Free Agent signings is with a salary cap is entirely unserious. Players have proposed changes that would address these priorities, but the league is not interested in any changes that don't directly reduce the rights of all players and shift leverage to the owners."

Free agency begins the day after the World Series ends, although teams can't sign other franchise's free agents until five days following the conclusion of the Fall Classic.

However, teams can sign their own free agents during those five days. Otherwise, there aren't any restrictions regarding when a free agent can sign.

The proposal would represent a massive shift in how baseball teams, players and their representatives do business, and it's clear the union is opposed to it.

That news dropped as the current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and MLBPA is set to expire on Tuesday, December 1.

The league has proposed a salary cap-and-floor system. MLBPA has made it abundantly clear players oppose a cap. So CBA talks could get contentious and affect the 2027 season.

Commissioner Rob Manfred offered some optimism on ESPN during the Little League Classic last Sunday.

"We're meeting regularly, which is good. Every week, we've had days where we've met with the players. It's early, but we've got a lot of work to do, and we're at it. Look, our goal is to make a deal. We want to make a deal. We want to play baseball next year. We're planning on playing baseball next year."

The two sides do have the benefit of time, of course, but there's much to be done. The latest news to drop only serves to show the chasm between the two sides at the moment.