MILB “Dead period” likely to end with new CBA

[Futuregm2]

Never knew this, but apparently there is a rule that teams cannot contact minor leaguers for a period of over a month during the offseason. It’s likely to end with the new CBA.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -next-cba/

“ The offseason “dead period” for minor league players, which prohibits MLB teams from contacting minor leaguers or providing them access to their facilities for more than a month, will likely be eliminated in the next collective bargaining agreement between MiLB players and MLB.

As it currently stands, the freeze runs from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through Jan. 1, with some exceptions for injury rehabilitation. The policy was negotiated as part of the first CBA between the MiLB players association and MLB.

“There was some learning in there too. One of them being the dead period at the end of the year and players having access to team facilities,” MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark said Tuesday speaking to the Baseball Writers Association of America ahead of the all-star game.

“We were providing a breather we initially thought would make sense, but the truth is the guys want to continue to work and continue to have access to the resources the teams can provide.

The official language CBA language reads:

Clubs may not request, direct, or require Minor League Players to perform any activities (other than necessary injury rehabilitation, which shall be performed in the Player’s home city, if possible), at any location, during the Dead Period. Players shall not receive any salary, housing, or meals during the Dead Period (except for Players rehabilitating from injury at a Club facility, who shall be eligible for the housing set forth in Article XI(C) below and Club-provided meals consistent with Article XIII(A) or a reasonable meal reimbursement).

The policy has drawn criticism from both team officials and players. Club personnel say it disrupts offseason development programs, while some players feel locked out of valuable training time at team complexes in Arizona and Florida, which often include dormitory housing and meal support during these workouts.“

[Ozziesfan41]

I did not know that was even a thing it seems pretty stupid that they would prevent players from trying to improve themselves

[rockondlouie]

Wasn't that just to give them a break, let them get away from the long season and have some time on their own?

[imadangman]

I think the owners are getting ready to go far and deep into areas the players aren't even thinking about. The owners are going to cough up one of the more hot button issues like a salary cap/floor to make the players at the top look good, while hard-fixing the future economics of the game for the majority of the players. It'll be all kinds of little tweaks and chinks in the background. And Rob Manfred is getting ready to do it without them even noticing.

[Absolut]

This probably stemmed from the reports of Milb players being underpaid, exploited etc. a correction not addressing a problem and creating others.