With roughly two weeks before some Spring Training camps are scheduled to open, MLB and the Players Association (MLBPA) remain far apart in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
After the MLB lockout began in December, the two sides went more than 40 days before holding a meeting to discuss core economics. Prior to that, only a small group had gathered during the middle of December to review other issues.
Then last month, the union presented a counteroffer that was met by an exchange on behalf from the league. Although consecutive days of meetings were held, the idea progress had been made was tempered.
As for the latest round of negotiations, little was accomplished and tensions rose, according to Evan Drellich of The Athletic:
A 90-minute meeting between Major League Baseball and the Players Association was heated Tuesday, and the sides remain very far apart with the normal report time for pitchers and catchers about two weeks away, sources told The Athletic
With the potential implementation of a bonus pool for pre-arbitration players, the MLBPA cut $5 million from their proposal to update their new ask to $100 million.
The union, which is trying to get more money to younger players not yet eligible for arbitration, changed its pre-arbitration bonus pool proposal to $100 million.
Furthermore, the players also outlined changes for benchmarks that would amount to accruing a full year of service time:
The union plan would award a full year of service to rookies who finish in the top five in their league for Rookie of the Year, top three for reliever of the year and/or make first- or second-team All-MLB.
Although the union lowered their ask for a pre-arbitration bonus pool, the figure remains substantially higher than the $10 million team owners proposed.
As for the service time issue, the MLBPA previously wanted fielders who finish in the top 10 in cumulative WAR at their position to qualify, and top 30 for starting pitchers and relievers.
Will MLB have to delay Spring Training?
As more days continue to pass without a new CBA in place, the likelihood of 2022 Spring Training being delayed becomes more of a reality.
There does remain the potential for camps to not open on time, but Spring Training games to still go off without a hitch as those don’t begin until February 26.
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