Talks between MLB and the Players Association had improved in the last couple of days, and when the sides started to show some advances and make concessions, we all thought there could be a tiny chance of seeing the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) being approved today.
Unfortunately, that won’t be happening, at least not now.
The two sides just couldn’t agree on a new CBA deal prior to today’s 5 p.m. ET deadline, which had already been extended from yesterday.
“BREAKING: MLBPA player leaders agreed unanimously not to accept MLB’s final proposal, and there will be no deal on a new collective-bargaining agreement before MLB’s 5 p.m. ET deadline, sources tell ESPN. MLB has threatened to cancel its March 31 Opening Day without a new deal,” Jeff Passan of ESPN reported in perhaps the hardest tweet fans have had to read in a while.
BREAKING: MLBPA player leaders agreed unanimously not to accept MLB's final proposal, and there will be no deal on a new collective-bargaining agreement before MLB's 5 p.m. ET deadline, sources tell ESPN.
MLB has threatened to cancel its March 31 Opening Day without a new deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 1, 2022
Players and owners are expected to dissolve meetings at Roger Dean Stadium, a venue in which the two sides met for the last nine days.
Regular Season Games Now In Serious Jeopardy
It’s baffling that the two parties didn’t even talk in December and part of January, leaving most of the talks for when spring training and the regular season were awfully close.
Now, as a result of the league’s inability to get closer to players’ demands, the start of the regular season is, officially, in serious jeopardy.
The two sides are expected to pick up negotiations eventually, but at the time they do it, the league may have already chopped lots of regular season games off the calendar.
It’s just not fair for fans who have been patiently waiting for a resolution.
Back to square one.
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