MLB and Players Sign New CBA
Major League Baseball and the player’s union have signed a new collective bargaining agreement, extending the league's unprecedented run of labor peace through 2016.
"I am thrilled for the fans that the clubs and the players of Major League Baseball, together, have the opportunity to further build on our game's unprecedented popularity," Commissioner Bud Selig said.
In view of the recent NFL negotiations and the ongoing ‘No Deal’ in the NBA, coming to terms for the MLB agreement went relatively well. The harmony between owners and players is a welcome circumstance when you consider that nine baseball seasons were affected by strike or a walkout between 1972 and 1994 when a highly publicized strike abruptly ended the season that August.
A major change in the labor deal is the addition of blood-testing for human growth hormone (HGH). MLB said that they would begin testing players for HGH as early as spring training. The league would apply "reasonable cause" as players are tested during the year. A player failing the test would be given a 50-game suspension. Currently there are no random in-season tests planned for next season. The sides will meet during the season to determine how blood testing affects players' energy levels.
The deal was brokered by the new MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner, who replaced Donald Fehr in December of 2009. Weiner had been part of other negotiations as the union's top counsel.
"This is a good day for baseball and a good day for collective bargaining," Weiner said while touting the "quality of the agreement that has been reached."
It also marks the last negotiation for Selig, who is set to retire when his contract ends after the 2012 season.
Other aspects of the deal include:
- Moving the Houston Astros to the AL evening the leagues at 15 teams each.
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