Prior to MLB and the Players Association (MLBPA) meeting for another round of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations over the weekend, commissioner Rob Manfred indicated the sides were in agreement on several issues.
Among them include the implementation of a designated hitter in the National League, increased minimum salaries, pre-arbitration bonus pool, Draft lottery, and elimination of draft-pick compensation that gets attached to free agents by way of a qualifying offer.
It is also believed that the league and union are aligned on an expanded postseason. Last year it was reported that MLB wanted a playing field of 14 teams, while the players proposed 12 teams qualifying for the playoffs.
As CBA talks continue into mid-February, the two sides reportedly remain at odds over the number of teams for an expanded postseason, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:
An expanded postseason — MLB is seeking a 14-team field rather than the 12 the MLBPA is proposing — would also increase the playoff pool for players thanks to the gate from additional games.
An expanded postseason was first introduced during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when MLB and the Players Association agreed to a 16-team playing field that featured the first-ever Wild Card Series.
The new format allowed teams like the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins to end long postseason droughts, but for the most part, was unpopular with players.
The expanded postseason was more beneficial to the league as it created additional TV revenue. This is believed to be a driving force in Manfred and team owners wanting some form of an expanded postseason to return on a permanent basis.
Betts, Roberts open to expanded MLB postseason
Despite tying a franchise record with 106 wins last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers had to survive a win-or-go-home Wild Card Game just for an opportunity to face the Giants in the NL Division Series.
While L.A. defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the one-game playoff, the notion of being eliminated so suddenly raised questions if change is necessary. “For me, I look at things and what’s the solution. I haven’t done enough work on what’s a better solution,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said at the time.
“Can I sit here and say this is not ideal after you win X amount of games? Not ideal, but it is what it is, and I just don’t want our guys and expect our guys to think otherwise.
“Until they change it, this is the way the format is. I’m sure you have better insight than I do. I just don’t know. I don’t have a better solution right now.”
Mookie Betts also noted he is open to MLB implementing a new playoff format. “I mean, that’s a whole ordeal in itself. I can’t change it right now. We’ll just see kind of what goes forward,” he said of the league possibly going to an expanded postseason.
“There’s going to be a lot of great seasons that guys, teams don’t make playoffs or are put in this spot. It doesn’t really matter. You have to win the division. You have to do whatever you have to do to make playoffs. We’ll see how the format changes or if it does. But if it does, cool. If it doesn’t, that’s fine, too.”
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