MLB and the Players Association (MLBPA) failing to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) last December prompted team owners to unanimously impose a lockout, ending 27 consecutive years of labor peace.
A quick resolution wasn’t expected given the animosity that had built up between the sides over the years. That proved true as six weeks passed before the first proposal was made.
It wasn’t until the end of February that MLB and MLBPA began meeting regularly. However, both sides remained deadlocked in negotiations as the calendar turned to March, prompting commissioner Rob Manfred to cancel Opening Day and the first two series of the 2022 regular season.
When a new CBA was finally reached to end the 99-day work stoppage, Manfred agreed to reschedule the lost games in order to ensure a full schedule would be played.
In another attempt to repair relations, Manfred gave players a gift box that contained a pair of Bose headphones and an appreciation note on Opening Day, via Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic:
Rob Manfred has said he needs to repair his relationship with MLB players following the lockout. Here’s a small gesture from Opening Day. Each player had a gift box waiting at their locker with Bose headphones and this “note of appreciation” from Manfred inside. pic.twitter.com/kxHnGcoaQT
— Stephen J. Nesbitt (@stephenjnesbitt) April 10, 2022
At his news conference to announce the end of the lockout, Manfred noted he wants to improve his relationship with players, which has steadily declined since taking over as MLB commissioner in 2014. “One of the things that I’m supposed to do is promote a good relationship with our players,” Manfred said at the time.
“I’ve tried to do that. I think that I have not been successful in that. I think that it begins with small steps. It’s why I picked the phone up after the ratification and called Tony (Clark) and expressed my desire to work with him.
“It’s going to be a priority of mine moving forward to try to make good on the commitment I made to him on the phone.”
Manfred plans to meet with every team during 2022 MLB season
Having admitted on multiple occasions that he has fallen short in facilitating positive relations between himself and players, Manfred plans to meet with all teams this season and left the door open for players to visit MLB’s headquarters.
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