Last week, Tuesday was an important day. It was the day MLB and the Players Association had to come to an agreement in order to salvage a 162-game season.
It’s still Tuesday, but a week later. And obviously, who says new Tuesday says new chance to save a season of 162 games. Today will be a big day.
Sources: MLB, MLBPA lawyers met today, planning to meet again tomorrow. MLB has suggested Tuesday as deadline, in its eyes, for 3 things: play 162 games, and for players to get full pay & full service time. But, pay/service/sked can’t be unilaterally chosen—needs to be negotiated
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 8, 2022
After a good meeting yesterday, MLB told the players that if there was a deal on Tuesday, not only would the season be 162 games, but the players could potentially get 100% of their pay in 2022 as well as full service time. .
But as the last two aspects must be negotiated in addition to the agreement as such, that does not necessarily give me hope. We will see today on the sidelines of the developments.
Obviously, we would not be talking about a season that would start on March 31 as originally planned, but the canceled games would be resumed. We don’t know when (either via a season that would end a week later or via in-season doubleheaders), but they would be resumed.
What if there is no agreement today? Rob Manfred would ax in another week.
MLB has told the Players Association it expects to cancel another week of games without a deal reached tomorrow, sources tell me and @KenRosenthal.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 8, 2022
This means that if there is no agreement on the sidelines of this new schedule created by MLB, two weeks will have been cut. This is an important breaking point since two weeks is difficult to resume.
Can we afford to have hope? In the words of one player, “I’m done hoping”.
League presented multiple options for union to consider; one player briefed on discussions said they tilted too far in the league’s favor. Another player active in the union said, “I’m done getting my hopes up.” https://t.co/Z3CWglhpww
—Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 8, 2022
While chatting yesterday, MLB began trying to reach the players halfway. Instead of offering a luxury tax threshold of $220 million, now Rob Manfred would agree to raise it to $228 million for the next season.
We knew that MLB was ready to go up a bit.
On paper, you might think that’s really good, but since the MLBPA wants to go from $238 million to $263 million over five years and the bosses are proposing an increase from $228 million to $238 million over five years, we is still elsewhere.
And Evan Drellich, who has been on a roll since negotiations began, says raising the luxury tax threshold would have big implications for other major league baseball demands.
Sources: MLB offered to start CBT at $228 million, going to $238 million by end of deal. But rest of proposal not yet known, and league’s increase is said to have major strings attached. Players’ last known ask was $238m, finishing at $263m. MLB was at $220m previously.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 8, 2022
But at least the good news, as Jon Heyman saysis that the two parties negotiate and come up with ideas. That talks, at least.
There are still big issues to settle, but know that the two groups would be quite close in terms of minimum wage and in terms of the draft lottery.
Word is MLB has offered $228M luxury tax threshold for 2022, an 8.6 percent rise from $210M in ’21. That seems reasonable. Also still have to work out CBT years 2-5, bonus pool, minimum salary (they were close there), international draft, draft lottery (very close there). https://t.co/ZIKjkSbk2p
—Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 8, 2022
If a deal were to be signed today, Major League training camps would begin on Friday. Remember that the Pamplemousses and Cactus matches are canceled until March 18.
What if there is no agreement? Everything will be more complicated for the rest of the things.
