Players, owners open door to labor talks

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball and its players’ union reached an unprec- edented agreement Thursday to discuss renegotiating their labor contract that has three seasons remaining, part of a deal that includes modest rule changes for 2020 and drops pitch clocks until 2022 at the earliest.

Players have been furious at slow free-agent markets during the first two offseasons of the five-year labor contract, set to expire Dec. 1, 2021. None of the previous 11 collective bargaining agreements dating to 1966 has been overhauled in mid-agree- ment, except for limited areas defined by the sides when the deal was signed.

“It remains to be seen what the union’s going to ask for, what we’re going to ask for and whether we reach an agreement,” Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem said. “It’s a positive sign we were able to reach an agreement with the union on rule changes and hopefully we can build on that.”

Ordinarily, the sides would have started negoti- ations in March 2021. The union proposed major eco- nomic changes this offseason that management refused to consider, such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League, addressing service-time rules that affect eligibility to free agency and salary arbitration. Also, adding provisions to the amateur draft that would make teams less likely to jettison veterans in favor of rebuilding.

“I thi n k the common ground that we were able to find here has cracked open a door to a broader conversion,” union head Tony Clark said. “And that broader conversion we believe is necessary and in the best interest of both parties. How things mani- fest themselves moving forward remains to be seen.”

While there is no deadline, as a practical matter the sides would have to agree to major economic changes before free- agent negotiations start, on the sixth day following the World Series.

“Teams have the right to know what the rules are before they start making decisions regarding what their teams are going to look like,” Halem said.

As part of the agreement: For 2019:

■ Trade waivers will be eliminated, meaning no player can be traded after July 31 through the end of the regu- lar season. Players who clear outright waivers can still be claimed and will be eligible for the postseason if they are in the organization before Sept. 1.

■ Mound visits without pitching changes will be cut from six to five.

■ MLB has the right to cut half-inning breaks to 2 min- utes this year, down from 2:05 for most games and 2:25 for nationally televised games.

■A joint management-union committee will study effects of potential changes to the strike zone, the height of the mound and the distance from the mound to the plate. It is to issue its recommendations by Dec. 15. For 2020:

■ All pitchers must face at least three batters or end a half-inning, unless injured. While the union refused to agree to that provision, it also said it will not challenge it.

■ The active roster limit will increase by one to 26 from opening day through Aug. 31 and will drop from 40 to 28 through the end of the regular season.

■ Position players will be prohibited from pitching through the ninth inning unless the player’s team is winning or losing by six or more runs when he takes the mound.

For 2019-21

■ The commissioner’s office agreed through the 2021 season not to exercise its right to implement a pitch clock.