labor terms

• Rule 5 Draft

  A professional baseball draft held in the winter, in which MLB teams may select players who have not met certain roster requirements for other clubs. On subsequent reference, Rule 5 should still be capitalized if standing alone, whereas draft should not.

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  signed/traded/agreed

  When reporting on contracts and player movement, be mindful of wording. Do not report that a player has “signed” or been “traded” unless the source uses that language. For instance, none of the following examples indicate a signing or trade being consummated. The Lakers and Pelicans are finalizing details on a trade that would send

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• qualifying offer

  A one-year contract, at a set price, offered by an MLB team to a free agent who meets certain qualifications. If another team signs the player, the offering team receives draft-pick compensation. The abbreviation “QO” should not be used.

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• collective bargaining agreement

  A contract resulting from negotiations between employers and representatives for a group of employees. In all headlines and on second reference in copy, CBA is acceptable.

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• MLBPA

  Avoid overuse of this acronym for the MLB Players Association. Instead, use the MLB players’ union on first reference, and simply the union on second reference, unless it is necessary to differentiate it from the union of another league.

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• WNBPA

  Avoid overuse of this acronym for the Women’s National Basketball Players Association. Instead, use the WNBA players’ union on first reference, and simply the union on second reference, unless it is necessary to differentiate it from the union of another league.

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• NHLPA

  Avoid overuse of this acronym for the NHL Players’ Association. Instead, use the NHL players’ union on first reference, and simply the union on second reference, unless it is necessary to differentiate it from the union of another league.

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• NFLPA

  Avoid overuse of this acronym for the NFL Players Association. Instead, use the NFL players’ union on first reference, and simply the union on second reference, unless it is necessary to differentiate it from the union of another league.

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• NBPA

  Avoid overuse of this acronym for the National Basketball Players Association. Instead, use the NBA players’ union on first reference, and simply the union on second reference, unless it is necessary to differentiate it from the union of another league.

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