| ST. LOUIS -- Bud Selig and Donald Fehr sat in the | | | | luxury tax increases from $136.5 million this year |
| center of a dais, flanked by players and owners. | | | | to $148 million next year, then goes up each year |
| For the second time in four years, they were | | | | until it reaches $178 million in 2011. |
| proclaiming labor peace. | | | | Under the current contract, the luxury tax mainly |
| "The last agreement produced stunning growth | | | | has affected the New York Yankees, who paid |
| and revenue," Selig said. "I believe that five years | | | | $11.8 million in 2003, $26 million in 2004 and $34.1 |
| from now people will be stunned how well we | | | | million in 2005. Boston paid $3.15 million in 2004 and |
| grew the sport." | | | | $4.1 million last year, and the Angels paid about |
| The five-year collective bargaining agreement, | | | | $900,000 in 2004. |
| which runs through the 2011 season, is subject to | | | | The minimum salary increases, from $327,000 this |
| ratification by both sides. The deal makes | | | | year to $380,000 next season, and amateur draft |
| relatively minor changes to the previous | | | | pick compensation for some free agents who sign |
| agreement and doesn't alter baseball's drug rules. | | | | with new teams will be eliminated. Players selected |
| "This is the golden era in every way," Selig said. | | | | in the June amateur draft who aren't college |
| The current contract, reached in August 2002, | | | | seniors must sign by Aug. 15, taking away the |
| was set to expire Dec. 19. After eight work | | | | leverage of any threats to remain in school. |
| stoppages between 1972 and 1995, baseball will | | | | In addition, the Dec. 7 and Jan. 8 deadlines for |
| be assured of 16 years of labor peace. | | | | free agents to re-sign with their former teams |
| The deal continues, with some tinkering, existing | | | | were eliminated, and management agreed there |
| luxury tax and revenue-sharing rules, provisions | | | | would be no contraction under the term of the |
| that funneled money from large-market teams to | | | | agreement. |
| their competitors. The payroll threshold for the | | | | |