The more it changes, the more it is the same.
For the sixth day in a row, players and bosses met to try to sign a new contract.
And for the sixth day in a row, it went wrong.
Still, it sounded (potentially) encouraging mid-afternoon. The players have made an offer to the bosses and the latter have talked about it at length.
The players just made a package counteroffer to the owners, an offer on multiple issues, in the meeting that lasted about 15 minutes. Sides are caucusing now.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 26, 2022
But in the end, it was just a smokescreen.
According to Evan Drellich, who has good connections in the conflict, the meeting went badly. The owners reacted badly to the players’ offer, even if the players made concessions.
MLBPA dropped its request for arbitration eligibility expansion from 75 percent of players with 2-3 years of service time to 35 percent. MLB doesn’t want to expand it at all from current 22. No change to minimum salary or prearbitration bonus pool proposals for either side.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 26, 2022
Note that in view of the playoffs, MLB still wants to see 14 teams (seven per league) participate. Nothing moves in the requests.
But among players, only 12 clubs are offered.
MLB last night was attempting to tie the draft proposal, the topic that had momentum for a time yesterday, to a 14-team expanded postseason, and today made clear that was its position. Players have proposed 12 teams in expanded playoffs.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 26, 2022
These are the broad outlines. And there, where are we going?
Tomorrow, we don’t know if there will be negotiations because today’s session went so badly.
It would take a miracle for deal to come together by Monday. Union official called today a ‘very hostile meeting’ that left players seeing.
There is no meeting scheduled as of yet for Sunday.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 26, 2022
Remember that there are two days left before the deadline imposed by Rob Manfred to start the season on time. If there is no agreement, the season will not have 162 games.
Whistleblower alert: the season will not have 162 games.
