Catherwood LibraryILR School

Both Major League Baseball’s athletes and owners have ratified the five year contract that was proposed on November 30th. Twenty-nine teams voted in favor of the deal, with the Tampa Bay Rays being the only organization to oppose. The Rays’ ownership was disappointed by the contract’s exclusion of provisions regarding the widening competitive gap between high and low revenue teams. Highlights of the contract included raising the luxury tax threshold, banning the hazing of rookie players, eliminating the home-field advantage given to the All-Star champion, capping signing bonuses for international amateurs, and the banning of smokeless tobacco for new players.