Today, the MLB Players Association rejected what MLB characterized as its “final” proposal to establish a draft and hard slotting system for international entrants. From their statement:

Players made clear from the outset that any International Draft must meaningfully improve the status quo for those players and not unfairly discriminate between those players and domestic entrants.  To this end, the Players Association made a series of proposals aimed at protecting and advancing the rights of international amateurs.

Our Draft proposals – unprecedented in MLBPA history – sought to establish minimum guarantees in player signings, roster spots, infrastructure investments, playing opportunities, scouting opportunities, and enforcement measures to combat corruption.  We also made proposals to compensate international signees more fairly and in line with other amateurs and to ensure that all prospects have access to an educational and player development safety net.

At their core, each of our proposals was focused on protecting against the scenario that all Players fear the most – the erosion of our game on the world stage, with international players becoming the latest victim in baseball’s prioritization of efficiency over fundamental fairness.  The League’s responses fell well short of anything Players could consider a fair deal.