Story perspectives

MLBPA Seeks 20-Round Draft, $359 M Pool; Owners Counter

7/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

MLBPA proposed on Tuesday to keep a 20-round draft and maintain high-school eligibility.
The union wants college sophomores eligible regardless of age, raises the 2026 signing-bonus pool to $358.7 million and adds $2 million for small-market teams and $1 million for playoff appearances.
Owners countered on June 18 with a 12-round hard-slot draft, a $200 million 2027 bonus-pool, an international draft, and warned the CBA expires Dec. 1, making a lockout likely.

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Story summary

MLBPA proposed on Tuesday to keep a 20-round draft and maintain high-school eligibility.
The union wants college sophomores eligible regardless of age, raises the 2026 signing-bonus pool to $358.7 million and adds $2 million for small-market teams and $1 million for playoff appearances.
Owners countered on June 18 with a 12-round hard-slot draft, a $200 million 2027 bonus-pool, an international draft, and warned the CBA expires Dec. 1, making a lockout likely.