After hearing the players’ latest offer over the weekend, MLB said that the union “went backwards” in its proposal to the league.
However, the union is not happy about the league’s reaction and said they have already given up a lot in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, “the union disputes MLB’s characterization, saying major concessions have already been made on its side: No Super 2 Class expansion, No reduction of revenue sharing, No elimination of non-monetary CBT penalties, Accepted uniform patches, decals, a pitch clock, and expanded playoffs.”
The union disputes MLB's characterization, saying major concessions have already been made on its side:
No Super 2 Class expansion
No reduction of revenue sharing
No elimination of non-monetary CBT penalties.
Accepted uniform patches, decals, a pitch clock, and expanded playoffs— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 6, 2022
Indeed, the players have a point: they have made all kinds of concessions in an effort to get the league to come closer in minimum salary, competitive balance tax (CBT), and bonus money for pre-arbitration players among the best in the league.
The Union’s Latest Offer
In its latest offer, the union dropped their request for the pre-arbitration bonus pool from $85 million to $80, but ceded no ground on the minimum salary and the CBT threshold.
The union may be willing to expand playoffs to 14 teams if the league moves on core economic issues and if the division winner takes a 1-0 lead to the best-of-three initial playoffs series.
Players want the CBT to begin at $238 million and increase to $263 million in 2026.
MLB, on the other hand, want a CBT threshold that starts at $220 million and slowly climbs to $230 million.
There is still a lot of work to be done, and by the look of things, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred cancelling more regular season series soon seems likely.
It’s not clear when the two sides will meet again and talk, but talk is clearly against everybody.
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