According to sources familiar with the talks, Major League Baseball indicated for the first time that it is open to a pre-arbitration bonus pool during a labor meeting Tuesday with the MLB Players Association, but the sides remain far apart on how much should be distributed.
According to sources, MLB is offering $10 million in the pool while the players want more. The money would be given to the top 30 players based on their wins above replacement and awards.
The offers are a starting point for negotiations.
The minimum salary for first-year players in MLB was raised from $600,000 to $615,000, but the players want a bigger raise.
MLB did not change its previous offers for second- and third-year players, as the current minimum salary is $570,500.
Status quo to the arbitration system is being offered by MLB after asking for a formula-based alternative. Players who have three years of service time can be eligible for arbitration.
Less than a month before spring training camps are due to open, the two sides met in New York for a second day Tuesday. The players' association dropped its demands to change free agency while rejecting MLB's previous proposals.
The bonus pool and an NBA-style lottery draft were previously offered, but MLB believes it has opened a path to negotiate.
Revenue sharing and the competitive balance tax need to be agreed upon. Baseball players have been locked out since the previous collective bargaining agreement expired in December.
Spring training camps need to open on time if an agreement is to be reached. The union has prepared a war chest in case of a labor dispute. If a deal is not struck by the first week of February, players will receive $5,000.
The sides plan to work on a dozen non-core economic issues in order to end the lockout as soon as possible.
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