Rob Manfred has joined the MLB contingent today during negotiations as Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players’ Association desperately try to resolve the many issues that have stretched out the ongoing work stoppage and come to an agreement on a new CBA to save Opening Day.
Manfred is finally getting involved in lockout talks, but with the clock ticking, it seems unlikely that a deal will be made today, and that Opening Day will indeed have to be pushed back from its original date, March 31.
And three hours later they now meet again, this time, with Rob Manfred joining the MLB contingent https://t.co/xHeJuFRNKO
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 28, 2022
Baseball’s lockout continues to keep the sport at a standstill with no agreement in sight.
What This Means
More than likely, this does not signal any progress on the negotiations front and is a sign of trouble.
The owners set today as a deadline to reach a new CBA and stop Opening Day from being delayed past its original date, and Manfred attending today’s meetings doesn’t do anything to help matters.
Baseball is at an impasse due the ongoing lockout.
The game was already declining, with the younger generation of fans turning away from the sport and shifting their focus to other sports such as football, hockey, and basketball, and the lockout being prolonged only makes matters worse.
What Happens Next
MLB appears to be intent on alienating half its fanbase in order to make a point, and that most likely stands the reason why Manfred is in Jupiter: simply to make a point.
Tensions are high, and both sides continue to posture and dig their heels in, preventing any kind of progress from taking place.
In all likelihood, Opening Day will likely be delayed and the games on the schedule that are lost simply won’t be rescheduled.
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