More spring training games canceled as negotiations drag on between owners and MLB players

By Don S. Sipe Last updated Mar 5, 2022

Video above: A sausage vendor near Boston’s Fenway Park is feeling the bite of the MLB lockdown Major League Baseball on Friday canceled spring training games until at least March 17 as negotiations over a new collective agreement between the league and the players’ union is dragging on. On Tuesday, MLB postponed Opening Day on March 31 and canceled the first two sets of regular season games after a deal was not finalized. A collective agreement determines the conditions of employment of the players. Players will not be paid for canceled games, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred noted. bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs,” Manfred told reporters earlier this week. “I want to assure our fans that our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of ‘efforts on the part of either party.’ The league had originally canceled all spring training games through March 7, and MLB’s Opening Day was scheduled for March 31 March The commissioner said the games have been canceled and not postponed because it is not possible to reschedule interleague games The first spring training games could currently start on March 18. The players’ union criticized on Tuesday the league’s decision to postpone Opening Day and the cancellation of regular games for reason, saying in a statement that players – and fans – have been “disgusted, but sadly not surprised.” of these negotiations, the objectives of Players have been consistent – promoting competition, providing fair compensation to young players to maintain the integrity of our market system,” the union said. “Amid growing revenues and record profits, we are looking for nothing more than a fair deal.” The league locked out players Dec. 2, barring them from using team facilities and preventing free agents from signing new contracts. The shutdown stems from disagreements over how to distribute about $11 billion in annual revenue. most recent. Players, meanwhile, have seen their salaries drop in recent years, especially for non-star players. The union has pushed to change the league’s restrictive free agency rules and reduce financial penalties for high-spending teams.

Video above: A sausage vendor near Boston’s Fenway Park feels the bite of the MLB lockdown

Major League Baseball on Friday canceled spring training games until at least March 17 as negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players’ union drag on.

On Tuesday, MLB postponed Opening Day on March 31 and canceled the first two sets of regular season games after a deal was not finalized.

A collective agreement establishes the conditions of employment of the players. Players will not be paid for canceled games, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred noted.

The league has indicated it is ready to continue negotiations while the union said team owners are trying to break up the players’ united front.

“We worked hard to avoid a result that was bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs,” Manfred told reporters earlier this week. “I want to assure our fans that our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of effort by either party.”

The league had originally canceled all spring training games through March 7, and MLB Opening Day was scheduled for March 31. The commissioner said the games had been canceled and not postponed because it was not possible to reschedule interleague games.

The first spring training games could currently begin on March 18.

The players’ union on Tuesday criticized the league’s decision to postpone opening day and cancel regular games, saying in a statement that players – and fans – are “disgusted, but unfortunately not surprised”.

“From the beginning of these negotiations, the players’ goals have been consistent: to promote competition, to provide fair compensation to young players and to maintain the integrity of our market system,” the union said. “Amid growing revenues and record profits, we are looking for nothing more than a fair deal.”

The league locked out players Dec. 2, barring them from using team facilities and preventing free agents from signing new contracts. The shutdown stems from disagreements over how to distribute about $11 billion in annual revenue.

The owners say they have been battered by declining in-person attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have been pushing to sign a new collective agreement similar to the most recent one.

Players, meanwhile, have seen their salaries drop in recent years, especially for non-star players. The union has pushed to change the league’s restrictive free agency rules and reduce financial penalties for high-spending teams.