# MLBPA and Owners Present First Offers + Weekend Waiver Preview

An episode of [Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1486883874), 29 May 2026, 1 h 07 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6818a1a4eb737caf8ca41879/e/6a19e8859185688d78bb6b25/media.mp3

Major League Baseball and the MLBPA have officially opened negotiations on a new labor deal, and while both sides are talking, they’re nowhere close to seeing eye to eye. Today, Eno and DVR break down the league’s initial proposals, the union’s response, and why these talks could stretch deep into the offseason. Later, Ottoneu founder and Senior Hot Dog correspondent Niv Shah joins the show to discuss the latest Ottoneu leaderboard — and explain why he refused to eat the hot dog fries. Rundown: 0:44 And It Begins: MLBPA & Owners Present First Offers 10:42 Inevitable Lockout: Does That Mean Lost Games? 16:30 Sell-High Starting Pitchers: We’re All Looking at the Same Numbers! 26:45 Dustin May’s Turnaround: Buying In with Increased Cutter Usage? 28:10 Jared Jones is Back! Returning Friday Night vs. Minnesota 33:08 Hitters to Consider: Another Thin Week for Bats? 42:36 Niv Shah Joins the Show 42:52 Hot Dog Fries: Why Did Niv Pass? 44:45 What in the World Is This? 49:25 Taste of the Majors: The New York Mets Dog is a Hit! 51:08 Ottoneu Points Leaderboard: Learning From This Year’s Pleasant Surprises 1:01:38 Timing is Everything: Keeper League Windows are Open! Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris With: Niv Shah Editor: Jason Potere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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