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One of the primary reasons I’m pushing for expansion is the current labor negotiations. Everything indicates a lockout. The new GM’s if they don’t get in for 26 will have to wait until possibly 28😲
If I was the arbitrator this is what I would mandate:
The floor & cap is needed. Especially the floor.
However an independent auditor both sides agree on will examine the books quarterly. That ensures the players aren’t shafted on Media revenue, free agency and revenue sharing.
Both sides will feel like they’ve been fucked. A wise man told me when that happens that means it’s an effective negotiation 🤷🏽♂️
Thoughts?
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Oh, we're definitely going to have a lockout as the owners seem bent on a top end limit and it sounds like the player's union is (predictably) against it completely.
As for expansion, I don't see a reasonable way that we can move forward with it in 2026, there are just too many factors working against it, primarily that some GM's made trades and moves in the final 60-90 days of the season with the expectation that the rules wouldn't be dramatically changing before the beginning of the next season.
There may be a way for us to start the minor league portion of the draft in 2026 and do the major league portion in the spring/lockout part of the 2027 season but I haven't worked that out in my head all the way yet.
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That would be prefect actually. Gives the less aggressive GM's time to adapt, acclimate the new GM's, give them a say in their team formation. Excellent thinking!