MLB & Players Union Agree New Labour Deal Until 2016

While the NFL forced fans to endure a 132-day lockout this spring and summer and the 2011-2012 NBA season looks doomed because of owners and players being immovable on their negotiations, medicine on Tuesday, cialis order Major League Baseball and its players’ union announced that they have agreed to a new five-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) until 2016.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig, sale said: “Nobody back in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, 1994, would ever believe that we would have 21 years of labor peace.”

The most significant addition is blood testing for HGH. For years, the baseball union has resisted this. Blood tests require invasive needles. The unspoken worry: blood testing is the only reliable way to catch HGH users.

All players will be subjected to HGH tests in spring training, and for “reasonable cause” throughout the year. Players will be subject to random, unannounced blood testing beginning next off-season. According to this agreement, “the parties have also agreed on a process to jointly study the possibility of expanding blood testing to include in-season collections.” Union chief Michael Weiner said he still has concerns that in-season will drain the players’ energy and negatively effect performance.

Also starting in 2013 at the latest, a second wild card team will be added to the post-season (the league said a decision on whether to add a second wild card to the upcoming season will be made by March 1). The two wild card teams will play a one-game playoff, with the winner moving on to play in the Division Series. Also, the Houston Astros will move to the American League West, starting in 2013, giving each league 15 teams. Inter-league play will take place over the entire season, not just within a few designated weeks.

In order to reign in excessive signing bonuses for draft picks, each team will be assigned a signing bonus pool for their first 10 picks on the draft. The value of the pool depends on a team’s draft position (underperforming teams with high draft positions will have bigger pools). Teams that spend above the pool will be taxed, harshly: teams that spend over 15% of their assigned value, for example, will be taxed 100% on the overage, and forfeit first round picks for the next two drafts.

The current luxury tax system will stay in place: teams that spend above $178 million on payroll  pay a penalty.

Overall, the new agreement keeps baseball on the right economic path and has no doubt embrassed the NBA and NFL organisations.