Background

Ratified March 10, 2022, ending the 99-day owner lockout that began December 2, 2021 (the second-longest work stoppage in MLB history after the 1994–95 strike). Notable additions in this cycle: (1) the Pre-Arbitration Performance Bonus Program (Art. XV.D) — $50M/year pool distributed to pre-arbitration players based on a defined formula (WAR-based plus award-based components) — addressing one of the union's central asks about pre-arb compensation; (2) the Universal Designated Hitter (effective 2022, formalized via Art. XVIII Rule Changes plus side letters); (3) the pitch clock, larger bases, and pickoff/disengagement limits (effective 2023, again under Art. XVIII); (4) raised CBT thresholds with new surcharge tiers (Art. XXIII), the so-called 'Cohen tax'; (5) raised minimum salary ($700K in 2022, escalating to $780K by 2026); (6) the draft lottery and anti-tanking provisions. The Agreement is the source document for all 2026 CBA negotiation analysis — it expires December 1, 2026, and a lockout is widely anticipated. Lawyer: 'alamb' appears as PDF author per metadata — likely a paralegal or attorney at one of the parties' outside firms (MLB uses Proskauer Rose; MLBPA uses Weil Gotshal & Manges). The load-bearing document for any 2026 CBA, owner-opposition, or labor-economics research; cite specific Article and Section numbers when discussing provisions.

Key provisions

• Article I — Intent and Purpose (p. 1).
• Article II — Recognition: MLBPA recognized as exclusive collective bargaining representative for MLB players (p. 1).
• Article III — Uniform Player's Contract: the standard contract template appended as Schedule A; binds clubs and players to its terms (p. 1).
• Article IV — Negotiation and Approval of Contracts (p. 2).
• Article V — Scheduling: length of season, championship schedules, additional scheduling agreements, interleague play (pp. 3–10).
• Article VI — Salaries: minimum salary; maximum salary reduction (cap on year-over-year cuts); salary continuation for military encampment; Salary Arbitration eligibility, notice, procedure, and criteria (Art. VI.E, pp. 17–22), including Confidential Major League Salary Data (E.11) and prohibition regarding Competitive Balance Tax in arbitration argument (E.12). (pp. 11–22.)
• Article VII — Expenses and Expense Allowances: transportation, meal and tip allowance, spring training allowances, All-Star/Home Run Derby participant benefits, in-season supplemental allowances, allowances for injured players (pp. 22–33).
• Article VIII — Moving Allowances (p. 34).
• Article IX — Termination Pay (pp. 35–37).
• Article X — World Series, LCS, Division Series, and Wild Card Series Players' Pool: creation, distribution, and guarantee of postseason player pool (pp. 38–40).
• Article XI — Grievance Procedure: definitions, procedure, special procedure for certain disciplinary action, grievances initiated by Club or Association, survival of grievance rights following CBA termination (pp. 40–51).
• Article XII — Discipline: just cause; conduct detrimental or prejudicial to baseball; notice; investigations and discovery; compliance; reference to Major League Rule 2 (pp. 51–55).
• Article XIII — Safety and Health: Safety and Health Advisory Committee; injured list; second medical opinion; certified athletic trainers; disclosure of medical or health information; rehabilitation facilities; mental health resources; Strength and Conditioning Advisory Committee; nutritional supplements; weight rooms; Infectious Disease Committee (pp. 55–66).
• Article XIV — Spring Training Conditions (pp. 66–67).
• Article XV — Miscellaneous: No Discrimination (A); Parking Facilities (B); Winter League Play (C); Pre-Arbitration Performance Bonus Program (D, pp. 68–71) — new in 2022 cycle, distributing $50M annually to pre-arbitration players based on performance metrics; Active Player Limit (E); Foreign Translations and ESL Courses (F); Future Expansion (G); Future Contraction (H); Sale of Club (I); All-Star Game (N); Special Events (O); Electronic Notice (P) (pp. 67–88).
• Article XVI — Deferred Compensation (p. 89).
• Article XVII — Existing Agreements (p. 90).
• Article XVIII — Rule Changes: Playing and Scoring Rules; Other Rules — the article through which the Universal Designated Hitter, the Pitch Clock, larger bases, and the pickoff/disengagement limits were formally incorporated (pp. 91–93).
• Article XIX — Assignment of Player Contracts: consent to assignment; assignment to minor league; foreign assignments; optional assignments; waivers; designated player; unconditional release; forms (pp. 93–100).
• Article XX — Reserve System: Reservation Rights of Clubs (A); Free Agency — eligibility, procedure, rights of former club, compensation, unconditional release rights, miscellaneous (B); Outright Assignment to Minor League — election of free agency by 3-year player and on second outright assignment (D); Individual Nature of Rights (E) (pp. 100–113).
• Article XXI — Credited Major League Service: definitions; optional assignments (pp. 114–115).
• Article XXII — Management Rights (p. 115).
• Article XXIII — Competitive Balance Tax: general definitions; calculation of tax; base tax thresholds (and surcharge tiers introduced in this CBA) (pp. 115+).

Notable provisions

This Agreement, effective March 10, 2022, is between the 30 Major League Clubs and the Major League Baseball Players Association (hereinafter referred to as the "Players Association" or the "Association").— 2022–2026 Basic Agreement, preamble (PDF p. xv)

The intent and purpose of the Clubs and the Association (hereinafter "the Parties") in entering into this Agreement is to set forth their agreement on certain terms and conditions of employment of all Major League Baseball Players for the duration of this Agreement. Each of the Parties acknowledges the rights and responsibilities of the other Party and agrees to discharge its responsibilities under this Agreement.— 2022–2026 Basic Agreement, Article I (Intent and Purpose) (PDF p. 1)

The Clubs recognize the Association as the sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent for all Major League Players, and individuals who may become Major League Players during the term of this Agreement, with regard to all terms and conditions of employment, provided that an individual Player shall be entitled to negotiate in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement (1) an individual salary [...]— 2022–2026 Basic Agreement, Article II (Recognition) (PDF p. 1)

Further context

2022–2026 MLB Basic Agreement

The current operative Major League Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement, ratified March 10, 2022 between the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The Agreement covers the 2022 through 2026 MLB seasons; the formal expiration date is December 1, 2026.

Procedural posture

The 2022 CBA was ratified after a 99-day owner lockout — the second-longest work stoppage in MLB history (the 1994–95 strike lasted 232 days). The lockout began December 2, 2021, immediately upon the expiration of the 2017–2021 CBA; the resolution restored a normal Opening Day timeline (April 7, 2022, after a brief delay from the original March 31 date).

Structural notes

The 2022–26 CBA follows the standard MLB Basic Agreement template (Articles I through XXVIII in similar prior cycles), with several notable substantive additions:

1. Article XV.D — Pre-Arbitration Performance Bonus Program (new). A $50M annual pool distributed to pre-arbitration-eligible players based on a defined formula combining WAR-based and awards-based components. Addresses the long-standing union concern that pre-arbitration players are systematically underpaid relative to their on-field value.
2. Article XVIII — Rule Changes (existing, expanded use). The mechanism through which the Universal Designated Hitter, the Pitch Clock, larger bases, and the pickoff/disengagement limits were formally incorporated into the on-field rules.
3. Article XXIII — Competitive Balance Tax (revised). Raised thresholds and new surcharge tiers, including the "fourth tier" surcharge that has been informally labeled "the Cohen tax."
4. Article VI.A — Minimum Salary (revised). Set at $700,000 in 2022, escalating to $780,000 by 2026 — a notable increase from the $570,500 figure in the 2017–21 CBA's final year.

Why this matters

The single most important document in the archive for current labor analysis. The 2026 CBA expiration (December 1, 2026) is the dominant looming storyline. The owners' anticipated demands include a salary cap; the union's anticipated demands include further raises to the CBT thresholds and reform to service-time manipulation. The Pre-Arbitration Performance Bonus Program will be a load-bearing piece of evidence for the union's case that pre-arb players still need structural reform. The Cohen tax is itself a structural irony — the league imposed it because Steve Cohen's Mets were the only club willing to outspend the CBT thresholds; the Dodgers have since spent past it consistently anyway.

Related documents in the archive

• 2022-01-01_policy_joint-drug-prevention-treatment-program.md — companion drug agreement, jointly ratified.
• 2008-03_constitution_mlb-constitution-post-2005-amendment.md — league governance document referenced throughout (Article XII discipline cross-references the Constitution's Commissioner authority).

Verification status

needs_review (Pass C demotion, 2026-05-19). The MLBPA-hosted PDF and the SABR Box copy are bit-identical (same SHA256), and both publishers independently distribute the joint operative document — the sourcing rail is sound. Demotion is for incomplete substantive content: the prior verified state was achieved with a placeholder quoted_excerpts entry. Pass C added three verbatim excerpts (preamble, Article I, Article II); promotion to verified requires at least a few more substantive excerpts and a clean Article-by-Article pass over the recorded provisions against the PDF.

Related documents

Supersedes

2017-2021 MLB Basic Agreement

Related documents

Joint Drug Program (2022–2026)

Source provenance

• Primary source
• Wayback Machine archive
• Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Business of Baseball Files