In the first proposal either side has made in these early days of collective bargaining, the Major League Baseball Players Association on Wednesday put forth a slew of changes that would increase pay for players and significantly alter the way the sport’s owners share money among themselves.The union’s proposals appeared to be aimed at the repeated concerns owners have raised over the sport’s parity, and smaller-market teams’ ability to compete. A new “competitive integrity tax” the union proposed would effectively serve as a soft salary floor, whereby teams that don’t reach certain spending levels would be penalized.The union also proposed roughly doubling the minimum salary in 2027, to $1.5 million from $780,000 this year; the elimination of the qualifying offer for free agents, and a $180 million starting point for the pre-arbitration bonus pool, which would grow by $15 million every year over the life of the deal.The base competitive-balance tax threshold, or CBT, would start at $300 million, up from $244 this year. The competitive integrity tax floor would start at $150 million, half of the first tax threshold.“Our goal is to preserve and improve baseball’s market system, rewarding competition on and off the field,” interim executive director Bruce Meyer said in a statement. “The players’ proposals provide increased revenue sharing initially guaranteeing every small market club a minimum of $240 million in revenue every season.“This enhanced revenue sharing includes added protections to ensure clubs prioritize winning over profiteering. Ultimately, our proposals are designed to build upon the incredible momentum and popularity of our sport world-wide.”MLB did not immediately have comment.The sides met in person in New York City, the start of a jam-packed two days for lawyers and economists at the union and the labor relations department. The sides are set to meet again on Thursday, when it’ll be the league’s turn to slide a proposal across the table.