What happened: MLB proposed limiting most signings to several weeks in December before reopening activity in early February, with transactions frozen between those periods. Bruce Meyer said conditioning that calendar on a salary cap would reduce player leverage and pit free agents against one another.
Why it matters: The plan links roster reforms to the central economic dispute in collective bargaining. That linkage widens the divide as the parties negotiate a replacement agreement.
By the numbers: The broader package would reduce each player's annual minor-league options from five to four, allow 14 pitchers on active rosters and establish Monday-to-Monday roster periods.
What to watch: Watch whether MLB separates the transaction calendar from its cap-and-floor proposal before the current agreement expires.