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MLB's new CBA proposal

Sports · Heat 1.0 / 10 · 3 shows · 14m airtime

On October 14, 2026, MLB sent the MLBPA its latest collective bargaining proposal, with the current deal expiring in December. The offer shortens the regular season to 154 games, expands the division series to best-of-seven, lets top seeds pick opponents, raises the minimum salary from $780,000 to $1 million and cuts free agency from six years to five. Reporting since adds that owners will push to close the deferred-money loophole and limit free-agent contract length, all tied to a salary cap. The discussion weighs the player-friendly terms against the cap question and argues for going further, to 144 games and seven-game series throughout.

How 3 podcasts covered it

  1. The Dan Patrick Show, 2026-10-09 (24:50 to 29:48)
    Endorses the 154-game season and home games
    Smoltz, after praising Yamamoto's mechanics, endorses the 154-game season and the best-of-seven division series, calling the release an olive branch and arguing top seeds should get all home games. Reaction to the proposal, not new reporting on it.
  2. PTI, 2026-10-09 (15:51 to 17:26)
    Weighs the 154-game cut against a cap
    Perez weighs the 150-to-154-game cut against the salary cap attached to it, calling the extra days off attractive for players but predicting the union will not cap the ceiling. Opinion on a proposal already on the record.
  3. The Dan Patrick Show, 2026-10-10 (48:16 to 50:58)
    Walks through the 154-game proposal
    Smoltz walks through the 154-game and best-of-seven proposal, calling it a possible olive branch and backing the shorter season for competitive balance. He adds his own preference for giving top seeds all home games, but the substance stays inside the proposal already on the record.
  4. First Take, 2026-10-14 (44:03 to 46:24)
    Walks through MLB's latest CBA offer
    Walks through MLB's latest CBA offer to the MLBPA: a 154-game season, best-of-seven division series, top seeds picking opponents, the minimum salary rising to $1 million and free agency at five years. The hosts like the player-friendly pieces and push for 144 games and seven-game series throughout.
    New angle: MLB's proposal raises the minimum salary from $780,000 to $1 million and cuts free agency to five years.
  5. The Dan Patrick Show, 2026-10-15 (8:59 to 10:57)
    Adds the owners' deferred-money and contract-length push
    Verducci argues the postseason result has no bearing on the labor fight and that both sides are locked in. He adds what owners will push for beyond the known proposal: closing the deferred-money loophole and limiting free-agent contract length, all tied to a cap.
    New angle: Owners will try to close the deferred-money loophole and limit free-agent contract length, all tied to a cap.
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