LIDOM and Fenapepro extend collective bargaining agreement to strengthen winter baseball
The Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) and the National Federation of Professional Baseball Players (Fenapepro) have formalized a strategic agreement to extend the validity of their collective bargaining agreement. This extension, signed on October 14, ensures the stability of the system until February 15, 2027, allowing both organizations to continue negotiating the terms of a new definitive pact.
With this move, continuity is given to the original agreement signed in October 2021, which had expired on August 31st. The parties have established March 15, 2027, as the final deadline to finalize the pending points, maintaining a fluid dialogue and good faith.
Key points and benefits for baseball players
The document includes various transitional provisions that seek to benefit both clubs and players. Among the most notable aspects are:
- Joint participation in international events and exhibition games, both within and outside the national territory.
- Clearer regulation regarding the signing of LIDOM players by foreign leagues, with special attention to the Asian market.
- Improvements in insurance policy coverage, guaranteeing more robust protection against potential athlete injuries.
New features in the free agency system
One of the most relevant points of this extension refers to the player market. It has been established that free agency will have its start date on February 15. Until that moment, teams that hold the reserve rights of a player will have an exclusivity period to negotiate a renewal. From the indicated date, the players will be free to explore offers with any other franchise in the league.
The extension allows for guaranteeing the continuity of the players’ rights during the upcoming season and to advance in the conversations to establish a new collective bargaining agreement.
Erick Almonte, president of Fenapepro
For his part, Vitelio Mejía Ortiz, president of LIDOM, highlighted the spirit of collaboration that has prevailed in the working groups, underlining that the primary interest of both institutions is to ensure the sustainable growth of the league and the well-being of its members. This joint effort reaffirms the commitment to maintaining Dominican baseball as a benchmark of quality and professionalism worldwide.
