Play ball: MLB, MLBPA reportedly reach new CBA

Major League Baseball and the MLBPA have reached a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and avoided a potential work stoppage according to multiple reports.

Here are the latest details:

Richard Justice of MLB.com adds that some details must still be worked out but that an understanding is being finalized.

This news would prevent Major League Baseball from having their first work stoppage since the 1994-94 season.

Some of the primary talking points of these new CBA negotiations have been the luxury tax threshold, an international draft, and team compensation for free agents that sign elsewhere (currently the qualifying offer system). Details on these specific topics should become more clear as the agreement is made official.

Jon Heyman is currently reporting that rosters will not increase to 26 players for the regular season, as was reported as a possibility throughout negotiations.

The immediate impact of this CBA on the off-season market is expected to be quick and significant, especially with Friday’s non-tender deadline and the upcoming winter meetings.

Some teams looking to spend big were not certain of the new luxury tax threshold, and thus, could not operate with enough certainty. This didn’t stop the New York Mets from inking Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year, $110 million deal, but with the biggest positional name off the market, the dominoes below him could begin to fall.

One of the more prominent names on this list — and of the utmost interest to Toronto Blue Jays fans — is first-baseman Edwin Encarnacion. Reports have linked him to the Houston Astros recently with his agent, Paul Kinzer, insisting at length that the Blue Jays remain involved.

This CBA’s details could also loosen up a trade market that has begun to build a buzz in recent days. New York is said to be shopping one of Curtis Granderson or Jay Bruce given their outfield logjam while the Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly listening on trades involving former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen.

Many anxious moments still lie ahead this off-season, but the most feared one has now passed.