Tuesday evening’s CBA proposal from the owners to the players left many feeling like they were negotiating in good faith for the first time in this cycle’s renegotiation process. A notable element of that proposal was a the implementation of an international draft, the specifics of which were made available to the public. Reporting indicates that the owners view it as a point of significant importance. They’ve even attached it to the abolition of draft penalties in the qualifying offer system, which is a major carrot for the players.
The idea of instituting an international draft as a pipeline for global talent to reach the the major leagues isn’t a new one.