Has Collusion Returned to Baseball? Analyzing Whether a Concerted Increase in Free Agent Player Supply Would Violate Baseball's "Collusion Clause"

Abstract:     
This article argues that a concerted agreement among baseball clubs to increase the supply of free agent players violates baseball's collusion clause, and therefore, MLB clubs are at risk of losing another collusion grievance. Part I of this article explains the evolution of baseball's collusion clause and discusses three past collusion grievances filed by the MLBPA in the 1980s. Part II explains baseball's collusion-free period, which began with the settlement of 1980s collusion disputes. Part III discusses why MLB clubs may have again violated the "collusion clause" in the 2002-03 off-season.

Keywords: baseball, Major League Baseball, collusion, labor, antitrust, sports, sports law, sports economics

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