Major League Baseball’s Players Association and Major League Baseball intend to hold several bargaining sessions – possibly every day – starting Monday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan was told by sources.
Although details are not yet finalized, many owners and players plan to fly in for sessions that will take place prior to the MLB’s February 28 deadline.
Sources familiar with the situation informed ESPN that the MLB and players’ union had held a short bargaining session on Thursday. This resulted in little progress towards a new collective agreement.
Sources say that the union made adjustments to its arbitration demands and asked MLB for more money in a bonus pool before arbitrating.
Just before noon, a three-man MLB delegation headed by Dan Halem, deputy commissioner, arrived in the area. ET for only the sixth negotiating session about core economics since December began. Both sides met on the final day of the lockout, one day after spring training exercises were due to begin. However, sources informed ESPN that neither side believed there was much progress in negotiations.
Sources say that players were upset at MLB’s inaction on the competitive balance tax. League officials expressed dismay at the lack of action on the core economic issues of the game.
MLB expects to receive a proposal on Friday regarding several non-core economic topics. After the negotiating session, Halem and Bruce Meyer had a 20-minute conversation. This was described as unusually candid.
The union requested that 80% of players who have served two years in the service system be admitted to arbitration. This is a decrease from the previous request of 100%. 22% of second-year Super 2s players currently enter arbitration.
This new offer allows 20% of second year players to stay in pre-arbitration. The union also increased its request to $115million in the prearbitration bonus pool for top 150 players. According to WAR, MLB offers $15 million to the top thirty players.
The union had previously asked for $100 million to be added to the pool, but wanted all players who have served two years to reach arbitration.
Before a deal can be made, arbitration is one of the major issues that must be resolved.
Thursday’s key issues, such as the luxury tax thresholds and rates or the minimum wage, the proposal of the union to decrease revenue sharing, and the allegations by players of time manipulation, were not up for discussion. Both sides are still far apart in these areas, as well as their opinions on the postseason. Owners want to increase the number of playoffs from 10 to 14, while the players offer 12.
The owners locked out the players on Dec. 2The last collective bargaining agreement was terminated. There is a glimmer of hope that spring games in Arizona and Florida will take place this month, with games set to start February 26. The regular season must open by March 1.
MLB was informed by the union that it was ready to meet every day in the coming week.
This report was contributed by ESPN’s Joon Lee and The Associated Press.