The MLB universe goes well beyond owners and players: agents play a role, too, as they legally represent players for many baseball-related things.
They get them opportunities at diverse teams and often guide them through the process of becoming successful major leaguers.
It’s not difficult, therefore, to see agents side with players even though they do have contact with teams (although rarely with owners, per se).
Michael Mayer, the executive editor of MetsMerized Online, shared a message he got from an MLB agent.
He preferred not to say his/her name for obvious reasons that have to do with protecting his relationship with the agent.
Here’s a text I got this morning from a MLB agent on the lockout: pic.twitter.com/4T0IKSTxbc
— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 2, 2022
The agent said the situation was a “complete mess,” which is clearly the case, but there is more.
The Situation Was “Easily Avoidable”
“Sad thing is all of this was easily avoidable. Had (MLB Commissioner Rob) Manfred/owners not started (the) lockout they could have continued with free agent signings, ML phase of the Rule 5 Draft, arbitration hearings, players reporting to spring training, etc AND still be negotiating the entire time,” the agent said.
He went on to call Manfred and owners arrogant and short-sighted: “all they did was cause delays, spread lies, and breed mistrust and animosity.”
There was an informal face-to-face meeting between the heads of negotiations of both MLB and the Players Association on Thursday.
Official meetings should come soon, because more games could be cancelled if the sides don’t show some sense of urgency.
MLB said it would start cancelling games if the sides didn’t reach a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by Tuesday.
That’s what happened, as Manfred cancelled the first two series.
As the agent said, “this is not good.”
NEXT: MLB Insider Details The CBT Debate Holding Up The Season
