According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, Tuesday could be a “huge day in baseball” because MLB told the union if they can come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) today, they can still play 162 games.
But it’s hard to take that too seriously if owners said the same last week.
Huge day in baseball. Deadline No. 3. MLB told the players union if they can do deal today they can still play 162 games; if not, a 2nd week may be lost. MLB suggested a rise in luxury tax threshold to $228M, But details haven’t surfaced and players say there’s still work to do.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 8, 2022
In fact, as Heyman notes, today’s would be deadline number three: first, it was last Monday, and then it was pushed back to Tuesday when talks gained some momentum a few hours earlier.
None of those deadlines were met, and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the first two series of the season were cancelled.
Last week, the league showed a total unwillingness to reschedule lost games.
MLB Magically Offered Playing 162 Games Again… If There Is A Deal Today
The situation magically changed today.
Per Heyman, a second week could be lost today if there is no agreement.
Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported she has heard that “today is no firm time deadline to agree to something — not that any deadline has been firm in this process — and that both sides are trying to minimize what leaks out before they stop talking for the day. We will see how successful that is.”
(Ok back to baseball… all I’ve heard today is no firm time deadline to agree to something — not that any deadline has been firm in this process — and that both sides are trying to minimize what leaks out before they stop talking for the day. We will see how successful that is)
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 8, 2022
In the end, all that matters for both sides is finding a good deal, and everything else will fall into place eventually.
For example, players won’t rush into a deal, as they showed last week under the “pressure” of the first and second league-imposed deadlines, and here we are, with the league already talking about playing 162 games.
What about what they said last week?
It’s all a negotiation tactic at this point.
Take everything with a grain of salt.
NEXT: MLB Fans Left Waiting For Any News On Another Important Tuesday
