While many of the details are still unknown, it’s becoming very clear that MLB and the Players Association are much closer to a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement than at any other point in the three-plus month lockout.
But one area is currently proving to be a sticking point: the issue of international players. Under the current system, international players are signed like free agents, though teams have a limited amount of money the can spend in each signing period. Under the owner’s proposal, there would be a 20-round draft, with undrafted players still eligible to sign.