The MLB Players Association not only wants to keep the league’s amateur draft largely the way it is now but also revive elements that were in place before the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of labor negotiations picking back up between the league and union, the MLBPA made a draft proposal Tuesday that entirely rejects the dramatic cuts offered by team owners last month. Among the key components of the players’ draft proposal:
Returning the event’s timing to June, when it had been held annually through 2019. After a remote-based event in 2020 during the depths of the pandemic, MLB since 2021 has staged the draft as part of All-Star Game events each July. The 2026 version happened on July 11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The union, however, contends that the extra month of initial professional exposure for draftees provided by the June timing outweighs the incremental fan development benefits from staging the draft along with the All-Star Game.
Retaining a 20-round format as opposed to the reduced, 12-round structure envisioned by management.
Increasing signing bonuses instead of the hard slots and overall reductions that the owners proposed.
