Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Featured > Rob Manfred: Players Association Rejected MLB Free Agency Deadline For Winter Meetings
FeaturedMLB News

Rob Manfred: Players Association Rejected MLB Free Agency Deadline For Winter Meetings

Sebastian Abdón Ibarra
February 27, 2024
4 Min Read
Rob Manfred, 2024 Spring Training, Grapefruit League Media Day
Kim Klement Neitzel/USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

The MLB free agency period of the offseason was one of the most sluggish in recent years, with many high-profile players who could bring a lot of value to a roster still on the market despite Spring Training games now underway.

Up until Sunday, that group included former National League MVP Cody Bellinger, who was coming off a bounce back year. Bellinger wound up re-signing with the Chicago Cubs, leaving the proverbial “Boras Four” down to a trio of marquee Scott Boras clients being available in Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Matt Chapman.

Recently speaking at Grapefruit League Media Day in Tampa, Fla., MLB commissioner Rob Manfred revealed the league proposed a free agency deadline to the Players Association (MLBPA) but were rebuffed, per David Schoenfield of ESPN:

“We actually made proposals to that effect to the MLBPA. They were not warmly received,” he said. “With the system we have right now, one of the tactics that’s available to player representatives is to stretch out the negotiation in the belief they’re going to get a better deal. That’s part of the system right now. There’s not a lot we can do about it. Certainly, from an aspirational perspective, we’d rather have two weeks of flurried activity in December, preferably around the winter meetings where you’re all there to write about it.”

If MLB is attempting to imitate the NFL’s free agency period, their proposed plan is not one that accurately follows in those footsteps.

To begin with, there is not a two-week period and subsequent deadline for contracts to be agreed to. Secondly, NFL free agency truly begins 52 hours before more officially starting, in the so called legal tampering period, which is a time where teams can have preliminary contract discussions with players.

That allows reports of contracts to come out so quickly because they have already been agreed upon verbally.

There is also an argument to be made that each sport has its own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, the NFL and NBA may have a more dynamic and fast paced free agency, but neither come close to touching the chaos and excitement of the MLB trade deadline.

In the NFL especially you will never see someone like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen moved at the trade deadline. But in MLB there will always be a Juan Soto, Trea Turner or Manny Machado traded seemingly every season at the deadline.

MLB free agency changes should not be motivated by owners’ greed

Just because the aforementioned proposal to change MLB free agency is not the change the league needs, it’s not to suggest there isn’t a need for improvement.

However, if changes are to be made, it must be done to grow excitement around the sport and not because the owners wish to pressure players into taking more team-friendly contracts, which certainly looks like the aim of imposing a deadline.

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:MLBMLBPARob Manfred
BySebastian Abdón Ibarra
Sebastian Ibarra covers the Las Vegas Raiders as a staff writer for Raiders Newswire. He previously worked as a Marketing/Communications intern for the Ontario Jr Reign, and a staff writer and two time Editor for the Campus Times at the University of La Verne. Sebastian graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2022 from ULV with a major in Communications. His love of sports stems from his baseball career starting at tee-ball and ending his senior year at Servite High School. He enjoys video games and DC comics in his spare time. Follow him on Twitter: @sebas_abdon.
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Charlie Blackmon, Clayton Kershaw
FeaturedGame Central

Recap: Clayton Kershaw Unable To Protect Leads In Dodgers’ Loss To Rockies

July 30, 2022
July 30, 2022
Chris Taylor
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers News: Chris Taylor Accepts Blame For ‘Bad Read’ On Double Play In Loss To Diamondbacks

April 27, 2022
April 27, 2022
Mookie Betts, 2024 Spring Training
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers News: Mookie Betts Wants To Win Gold Glove At Shortstop

March 24, 2024
March 25, 2024
Tony Gonsolin
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers News: Tony Gonsolin Found Success With Trusting Fastball Against Padres

August 6, 2022
August 7, 2022

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어