MLS CBA Insta-analysis
by Jeremiah Oshan on Mar 20, 2010 3:59 PM PDT
in Sounders: MLS Regular Season
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PrintThere's only one important thing we got out of today's teleconference: There will be a season. Ok, there's two important things: We don't need to go through this again for at least five years.
I'll stand by my analysis of a few weeks ago in at least one sense: Neither side was looking for a fight. If owners had been looking for a way to break the union, they certainly had their chance to lock the players out or let them strike and hope for a revolt. If players were looking to prove a point, they could have held out for free agency and forced the owners into taking actions they didn't want to like using scabs.
This deal, while short on details, appears to have involved at least one major concession: There will be nothing like free agency in the next five years. I'm guessing the players accepted a large increase in salaries as the door prize.
I would have thought the only way players signed a deal like this without free agency was for a shorter-term deal. Of course, in five years the league will probably have a much harder time pleading for patience.
I give the players lots of credit here for showing a willingness to walk back from so many of their reps' statements. At least a few players certainly had to swallow some pride after so much chest-puffing talk.
Cooler heads prevailed on both sides. And for that we can all be thankful.
UPDATE: It looks like senior rosters will be increased, minimum salaries will be raised and some players could see as much as a doubling in salary. ESPN's Jeff Carlisle also says players with three years of MLS experience and are at least 24 years old will have guaranteed deals.
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I'M SO HAPPY!
I’m looking around for more details now, but I was hoping it was going to be a shorter term deal so they could work out higher salaries and what not in less than 5 years. I’m sticking to my guns when I say that I think MLS is about to “Go big time”. But 5 years does get us through the next World Cup, which in itself is also probably a good time to negotiate again due to the World Cup “bump” in increased popularity for soccer around the US.
Hope that made sense… :)
by soundersfcfanboy on Mar 20, 2010 12:08 PM PDT reply actions
YES
That is huge that this will get us through another World Cup. It’ll be interesting to see how the WC affects next season – if we coast into increased numbers as a result, maybe retain 10% of that new interest across the board to the next season, etc? Who knows. MLS is in way better shape than it was 4 years ago, maybe the WC had something to do with that?
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 20, 2010 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Delight
It is hard not to be delighted at the outcome. I always felt like cooler heads would prevail because the risks of a strike far outweighed the benefits.
I totally agree that MLS is poised to lift up a notch in American sports. I truly believe MLS could legitimately claim the 5th professional sport spot within a few years, if they are thoughtful, methodical and careful.
A strike in a WC year would have crushed their momentum. Now without the strike we can capture some of that natural soccer fan base that hasn’t followed MLS and use that momentum to swing upward.
Nick Garcia
is probably the most hated man in MLS right now.
Aside form that, looks like both sides won. Good for the league for not budging on free agency. I do hope as details come out that some of the details about player’s rights come out after a contract is up or the players are waived, although from previous discussions it didn’t sound like that was actually an issue (the 48 hour stuff).
I’m glad the players will be getting the increased cap and base salaries. I don’t like unions dictating what people should be paid, but I think the low end players deserved more than what they were getting.
Politics aside, I’m happy there will be a season and there will be an MLS for at least five more years.
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 20, 2010 12:09 PM PDT reply actions
I'm glad this looks like a real compromise
Like you say, cooler heads prevailed and MLS is a little bit friendlier to players now. That’s a very good thing in terms of attracting good quality players to the league and keeping them here.
Most importantly, I can put on my Rave Green next Thursday and pull for my Sounders.
Finally, I missed this, what did Garcia do?
Garcia was a major rebel-rouser
“We are united as a union and if we need to strike, we will,” declared Garcia, one of TFC’s two union reps.
Garcia added later: “We’re anticipating not having the season starting [on time]. As of now, for us, we’re very far apart — even with the mediator there in D.C. We’re hoping things can get done, but quite frankly I don’t think we’re confident things will.”
Funny thing, in hindsight nothing he said seems so bad. It was more that he was the first guy to openly say we’re going to strike if we don’t get a deal.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Mar 20, 2010 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, that doesn't sound so bad
A strike threat, like a doomsday device, is only good if people know about it. Somebody had to come out and say that the players were willing to take that step if necessary.
He made fans hate the players
He made the players sound like a bunch of whiners who are suddenly demanding all this stuff. Even TFC fans were pissed at him coming out saying what he said.
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 20, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Just in case
I should also mention, for those that don’t want to go through the game thread, that the biggest concession owners appear to have made was more guaranteed contracts. More than half of the league will have them. Don’t know what that means, specifically, but it’s pretty huge.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Mar 20, 2010 12:22 PM PDT reply actions
More job security for players, less payroll flexibility for ownership
by lemonverbena on Mar 20, 2010 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
As much as I didn't like this
I don’t think it’s going to be huge for owners. Look at those waived by Seattle. Fucito, Neagle, etc. They were making what…15k a year? This might be a bigger deal for teams with lower incomes or if the Sounders fandom dies down over time, but even then…this seems like an almost trivial cost. Most mid-high earners wouldn’t have been waived anyway. Just the little guys.
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 20, 2010 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Waiting for full details
Now to wait to see what the full package of the new CBA
Dave said the reserve league might be returning
This would be a very good thing, as it would allow us to keep our young guys around instead of having to farm them out. But we’ll have to see what’s really in the CBA when it’s finally released.
They kind of mentioned it offhand
That, too, would be pretty significant as Dave told me it cost about $3 million per team last time.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Mar 20, 2010 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Senior roster increase
Source? Details?
by Cornchops on Mar 20, 2010 6:28 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Unfortunately
I don’t have much else I can share at this point.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Mar 20, 2010 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I found out and got the news to BAR
It was from someone who would be knowledgable about the new contract.
I’m still fully confident that the Senior roster will increase.
I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I'm hoping
the senior roster increases. I’m really holding out for Parke to sign.
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 20, 2010 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm fairly confident it happens
27 in camp.
3 injured players of various degrees
2 keepers that could be made MLS pool keepers (1 guy is in both categories)
Currently in camp but not under an official contract for 2010 are Carillo, Parke and Fucito.
I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Any news on this reserve thing that came up?
I don’t know how it would work…would we be able to retain players and keep them in a reserve league? Fucito and a few others would be nice to hang on to.
by chrisperry1983 on Mar 22, 2010 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions
More "details"
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, citing “multiple union sources,” said players at least 24 years old with three years of experience will have guaranteed deals.
Adding, “In terms of unilateral contracts, the gains seemed minor, and the thresholds are slightly higher. Players 25 years of age or older with at least four years of MLS experience can have no more than two unilateral options written into their contract. The union was also able to extract some concessions in terms of wages although neither side would reveal how much.”
Roster size remains at 24
Looks like there won’t be an increase to the roster limit.
That depends
if that’s all senior roster or includes developmentals.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Mar 20, 2010 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Glad the season will start Thursday
The players wanted a lot, probably more than they could get. But with new teams coming into the league it is more important to try and maintain momentum and build the MLS brand than win major concessions right now. In a few years there will be more overall player spots in the league and hopefully an increasing revenue stream. Keeping the game going was really important right now.
Especially going into the World Cup
If the national team does well this summer it should bring lots of interest to MLS. Putting a work stoppage before that would have been fatal, especially in this economy.
The NFL and NFLPA should lock themselves in a room with that mediator.
by lemonverbena on Mar 20, 2010 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Sanna's getting a raise.
His contract value might double, it seems.
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