JUPITER (Fla.) — Despite long days of discussions between MLBPA and MLBPA on Sunday the sides remain far apart over a new collective bargaining arrangement, a union source said to ESPN.
Six-plus hours of meetings were held one day before the league deadline, which would result in the cancellation of regular season games. If there is no new collective bargaining agreement at the end of Monday’s negotiations, Opening Day will be canceled on March 31 along with possibly a week’s worth games.
According to the league, they need about four weeks of spring practice before opening the season. Therefore, the February 28 deadline is necessary in order for players to be able to play on March 31.
Monday will see the parties meet for an eighth consecutive session of bargaining. Sources within the union indicated that they are ready to stay for as long as necessary to reach an agreement. The league also confirmed the same. Sources within the league described Sunday as a productive day for conversations. However, there were no new proposals about core economics or any outstanding issues.
There are many issues that the sides disagree on, including minimum salaries, competitive balance tax and Super 2 expansion. Revenue sharing, increased postseason, new pre-arbitration bonus pool, and revenue sharing. Last week, the league announced that if regular-season games have to be canceled, players will not be compensated for 162 game seasons. According to the union, they are likely to negotiate back their pay in any scenario of return to play.
An agreement must first be reached. On Sunday, smaller groups met for small group discussions that began with Dan Halem, league negotiator, and Bruce Meyer (union lawyer). While owners remained in boardrooms, union lawyers met with league counterparts. Three players from the subcommittee also spoke to them. Max Scherzer, Marcus Semien Andrew Miller.
Before the sides concluded negotiations at 7 p.m., there were several meetings that took place in both their respective caucuses and together. ET. ET.
Owners locked out players in December after the expiration of the December collective bargaining agreements. Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that he believed locking out players would jump-start negotiations.
It has done everything else.