MLB Salary Raises, Increase In Postseason Teams, Drug Testing Changes: Labor Contract

FLORIDA — Thursday brought great news for Tampa Bay Rays' baseball fans and Marlins' fans when Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association ratified a five-year labor agreement.

This collective bargaining agreement ended a three-month lockout that caused frustration to fans and players as they waited to hear the official start date of baseball's regular season following delays caused by MLB and MLBPA disagreements. MLBPA wanted the MLB to increase the minimum salary for players from $570,500 to $780,000 in 2026. According to the agreement, players will not have to wait until 2026 to see an increase.

Increases begin in the 2022 season with a $129,500 increase; $720,000 in 2020; $740,000 in 2024; $760,00 in 2025; and $780,000 in 2026. Fans won't see fewer games this season as they were told the day before the agreement that the first four-series games had been canceled.

Instead, those games will be rescheduled, and fans and players will have a full 162-game schedule.

An MLB press release reported details of the new agreement. In addition to increased salary, it includes playing rule changes, bonus programs, a balanced schedule for players, increased benefits to retired players, and increased drug tests.

A Summary Of The MLB-MLBPA Labor Agreement Provided By MLB Press Release

• The five-year contract terminates Dec. 1, 2026

Postseason Playing, Scheduling

• Twelve clubs will be eligible for the postseason (six per league) beginning in 2022. The six postseason clubs in each league will consist of three division championships and three "Wild Card" clubs. Before the agreement, it was 10 postseason teams.
• The championship season schedule will become more balanced for all clubs, with each club playing all 29 other clubs in at least one series beginning in 2023

Playing Rules Changes

• Beginning with the 2022 season, the designated hitter rule will be adopted in both leagues.
• Playing rule changes will be handled by a reconstituted competition committee, comprised of representatives appointed by the commissioner's office, active players (with at least one active pitcher and one active position player), and an umpire. The committee will be responsible for adopting, revising, and/or repealing playing rules, in addition to providing the timeline upon which changes to such playing rules will be adopted, beginning with the 2023 season.

Pre-Arbitration Performance Bonus Program

• The parties agreed to create a new pre-arbitration performance bonus program to compensate players who have not yet qualified for salary arbitration.
• The total amount of the bonus pool will be $50 million annually and will be funded centrally.
• The bonus pool will first be distributed each year among eligible players who garner top award consideration.

Changes In Drug Testing, International Play

Other agreements between MLB and MLBPA include growing the game of baseball to have robust international play in Mexico, Asia, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, London, and Paris. There's also been a change in their drug-testing policy.

Part of the memorandum of agreement signed Thursday drug includes an increase in the number of in-season urine tests for performance-enhancing substances and drug abuse; also, drug testing will take place at random times. The MLB resumed drug testing players Friday after an extended testing pause during the lockout.

A new method of tests staff will be using includes dried blood spot testing for hGH testing, making MLB the first professional sport drug testing program to adopt this new technology. Along with an increase in the minimum salary for players, retirees' pension benefits will be increased.

For more details of the new agreement, click here.