The MLBPA rejected MLB's final proposal to create an international draft with a hard-slotting system, the union announced Monday:
Players made clear from the outset that any international draft must meaningfully improve the status quo for those players and not unfairly discriminate between those players and domestic entrants. To this end, the players association made a series of proposals aimed at protecting and advancing rights of the international amateurs.
Our draft proposals - unprecedented in MLBPA history - sought to establish minimum guarantees in player signings, roster spots, infrastructure investments, playing opportunities, scouting opportunities, as well as enforcement measures to combat corruption. We also made proposals to compensate international signees more fairly and in line with other amateurs, and to ensure that all prospects have access to an educational and player development safety net.
At their core, each of our proposals was focused on protecting against the scenario that all players fear the most - the erosion of our game on the world stage, with international players becoming the latest victims in baseball's prioritization of efficiency over fundamental fairness. The league's responses fell well short of anything players could consider a fair deal.
During collective bargaining agreement negotiations in mid-March, the union and league agreed to wait until July 25 to reach a deal on a proposed international draft that'd start in 2024. The qualifying offer for free agents would've been removed if the two sides struck a deal.
"We are disappointed the MLBPA chose the status quo over transitioning to an international draft that would have guaranteed future international players larger signing bonuses and better educational opportunities while enhancing transparency to best address the root causes of corruption in the current system," an MLB spokesperson said in a statement.
The now-axed international draft would've involved countries outside of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
