MLB is continuing their negoations with the MLBPA in an effort to come to a resolution on a new collective bargaining agreement. The original proposal included an MLB salary cap in the CBA.
The salary cap was not supported by the MLBPA. Now, MLB is proposing another change, requesting an international draft, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.
Currently, MLB uses an international amateur free agency system, which allows teams to sign players aged 16 or older, and born outside of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The current model is restricted by a hard-capped bonus pool for each team.
“MLB’s international draft would be restricted to players who are at least 18 years old, as opposed to 16 under the current system. It would consist of 12 hard-slot rounds, with an initial signing-bonus pool totaling $200 million for 360 amateur players residing outside the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, according to sources,” wrote Gonzalez.
This is not the first time that MLB has proposed an international draft. In the last round of CBA negotiations, a 20-round draft was proposed, but the cash pool was at just $191 million. While the number of rounds is being decreased, the cash pool remains the same.
“Under MLB’s international draft proposal, an unlimited amount of undrafted players can sign for a maximum of only $10,000 each, while also getting a $30,000 bonus upon graduating to a full-season minor league affiliate. The first draft would take place at some point between the fall of 2027 and the early part of 2028, and players would have to turn 18 years old no later than Sept. 1, 2028. For subsequent drafts, a player would have to be 18 by Sept. 1 of their draft year,” Gonzalez continued.
Restrictions on age in the current system have long been ignored, as players come to agreements early and then sign when they are old enough. Under the latest proposal, that would come to an end with the draft.
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