Owners, Players go to Extra Innings, Extend Deadline

[Ted Schwerzler]

Over 17 hours and 13 separate meetings commenced from Monday, February 28 into the early hours of Tuesday, March 1. Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have made significant progress on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The deadline to avoid cancellation of regular season games has been pushed to 5pm on Tuesday. A deal looks to be close. Check back often for updates as we have them.

Continue to check back as this article will be updated with any new news or updates, or even when the title gets changed to Baseball is Back!  

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Following the 11th discussion of the day, with MLB lead negotiator Dan Halem as the centerpiece for the league, Bob Nightengale has officially sounded the alarm. We have more movement than we’ve had in months, and baseball may soon be back.

The players have agreed to an expanded postseason situation that adds two teams, less than the league’s desire for a total of 14. The league has also agreed to a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) structure similar to the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which sunset following the expiration of that deal.

We don’t yet have an announcement of “Play Ball” by Commissioner Rob Manfred, but also are trending away from the cancellation of up to a month’s worth of games that was suggested earlier in the day. We are about to turn the page on February, and Spring Training games have been cancelled, but the hope would be that this is where the tide turns.

It appears numbers continue needing to be exchanged regarding the pre-arbitration bonus pool. Something in the $20-$40 million range could make sense with the players conceding on two addition Postseason teams. There's a path forward but no agreed upon figure at this point.

No matter what official updates trickle out, or how much is agreed to in principle, the CBA doesn't become legal until ratified. From the league's vantage point that requires "yes" votes from 23 of the 30 owners. Opposition from just eight organizations could hold up the sport.

Although the February 28th deadline has past on the East Coast, it's still alive and well everywhere else. Rob Manfred and MLB looks to be desiring a resolution yet tonight. Lots of work being done by both sides following the 42 day waiting period imposed by the league after December 2.

No sleep til Brooklyn! Or at least until MLB has a deal done it seems.

A 12th meeting took place with four members, including Dick Monfort, from the owners contingent heading over to the union side. Things are progressing, but as Nightengale notes, there's still plenty to iron out.

The 12th meeting between the league and players was easily the longest of the night. Lots of moving pieces right now.

Is 13 lucky or unlucky? We've reached the next meeting and now the discussion has evolved to bring in rule changes such as shift restrictions. At this point it seems the sides are making these conversations comprehensive. The luxury tax is also rising something like $20 million at this stage, which is a multiple of 20 over what the league proposed in their last deal.

Nearing 2am central time, Jeff Passan noted no deal would be coming in the wee hours of the morning. Major League Baseball has pushed back the deadline in which regular season games would be cancelled to 5pm eastern time, March 1. With enough of a framework in place, a deal appears imminent soon.

A few more details surrounding the parameters of the current proposal have emerged. The union has also dropped the desire to increase the Super 2 class.

Here’s some industry perspective to start off deadline day 2.0. We don’t have a deal yet, but maybe, possibly?

The players have bent quite a bit regarding the Super 2 eligibility and that could wind up being a point of contention today. More than rule changes, this has an opportunity to blow things up today.

Here's some context on how the expanded postseason would work. It's going to water down regular season competition regardless, but it's good to note that there will be an emphasis put on the winningest records.

No in person meetings have taken place between the sides in the first two hours today, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there hasn’t been dialogue. We’re roughly three and a half hours shy of the newly imposed deadline by MLB early this morning.

The league continues to push for a 14 team postseason, but this would water down the impact of the regular season. Players don’t want that as it would lessen the incentive to compete through spending in the offseason. The additional two teams are also a future bargaining chip. According to New York Post’s Andrew Marchand the difference in revenue from ESPN comes out to little more than $500k per team. That should be a pretty insignificant amount.

The first movement of the day has commenced!

The first proposal of the day has happened. Less than three hours until MLB’s new deadline.

 

This is opinion, but the union lowering their ask on the bonus pool at this juncture seems more about gaining additional funds than it does closing the gap. This is a positive step towards resolution in my mind.

And now it may all be for nothing? Or posturing? Or tempting how far we can push tiredness?

 

The league may now be done negotiating. Three hours from the deadline…where do we go from here?

Certainly sounds like the owners aren’t up for another late night and it’s in the union’s court at this point. Maybe a take it or leave it offer.

 

Less than three hours until Rob Manfred’s newly imposed deadline and all progress from yesterday appears lost. The union may need to stand strong in the face of cancelled games to force action.

 

MLB pitcher Alex Wood couldn’t be more spot on with regards to how the conversation has changed today. Reporters have blitzed towards a deal being likely last night and early into the morning. With the deadline remaining in tact and a “final offer” being presented, it’s an opportunity for the leave to place blame on the players should a bad deal be turned down.

Some details on the proposal from the union have emerged. The difference on the minimum salary is negligible at this point, that should not be a sticking point. These points are where the league is at however, and the ball is now in the players court.

And now this. Things went south...in a hurry.

 

And now after over a week of meetings in Florida, this is where we are...

Stay tuned for more updates as they happen!

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[Richie the Rally Goat]

Is it ok if I get my hopes up?

[Ted Schwerzler]

55 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

Is it ok if I get my hopes up?

I can assure you I wasn’t 3 cups of coffee in at 2am and just 4.5 hours of sleep down for your hopes to drop.

[umterp23]

Push comes to shove and the owners will get more the upside than players.  the players union balks at anything today, the players will get the media hit as the guilty party.  Owners leverage will win out, just a shame it took a 10am start time yesterday to start hammering away till wee hours Tuesday am.  Billionaire egos by owners will win again.  Woke up to birds chirping in the air (Western PA) and sunshine to start the day, could we finally be done.  Let's hope so, if not college baseball is a good time right now

[mikelink45]

That was an excellent report.  Thank you.

 

[RJA]

Great job following these negotations, Ted.  Let's get the lawyer stuff behind us and "Play Ball!".  

[Game7-91]

Thanks Ted for great reporting and follow through.

MLBTR reporting good chance settlement later today.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Great job staying up late through these negotiations, Ted. I couldn't hack it anymore after 11pm or so.

[Dave The Dastardly]

2 hours ago, Sconnie said:

Is it ok if I get my hopes up?

Hope springs eternal. And this is spring, meteorologically speaking.

[Major League Ready]

I would like to see the increase to prearb players be primarily distributed to all players as opposed to the current proposal by the MLBPA which would distribute 60% of the dollars to one percent of the players.  These are the same players likely to go on a get contracts that produce generational wealth.  How about looking out for all of the players for once.   I would like to see the minimum go to:

1^st year - 650K or 114% of current.

2^nd year – 750K or 131%

3^rd year – 855K or 150%

Average annual is 750K or an increase of 31%. 

The bonus pool should be modest.  For example, a player would double his salary if meeting the criteria that has been set.  It’s great to give them a bonus it should be something along the lines of doubling their salary, not multiple millions.   They will get the multiple millions if they establish that value.

[bean5302]

If the owners feel a deal is imminent, they could end the lockout now and get players into Spring Training while the final issues get hammered out.

[Squirrel]

22 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

If the owners feel a deal is imminent, they could end the lockout now and get players into Spring Training while the final issues get hammered out.

They could. That would really be a good faith move if they did. Since I’m in Fort Myers now, I wish they would.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

They could. That would really be a good faith move if they did. Since I’m in Fort Myers now, I wish they would.

Me too!

[Trov]

What this whole thing shows is that both sides could have done this weeks ago if they really wanted to.  They both played the game of chicken and finally say okay lets be real and see if we can work out a deal that we had months to do but work it out in a few hours. Really just annoying, but I know how it all works, just annoying. 

[Ted Schwerzler]

7 hours ago, Sconnie said:

Is it ok if I get my hopes up?

Please do. It will legitimize my lack of sleep.

[Ted Schwerzler]

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

If the owners feel a deal is imminent, they could end the lockout now and get players into Spring Training while the final issues get hammered out.

They could, but that would look weak for them and they don’t have that much foresight either.

[beckmt]

Looks like the players have put cold water on things, saying that MLB was only posturing.  Deal was never that close.  This is according to MLBtraderumors.   Looks more like the owners were trying to put pressure on for a quick deal.  Do not expect anything to happen.  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

10 hours ago, Sconnie said:

Is it ok if I get my hopes up?

Too soon

[Squirrel]

2 hours ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

They could, but that would look weak for them and they don’t have that much foresight either.

Well, and as we have learned … they weren’t close but were posturing, so of course they aren’t lifting the lockout

[sampleSizeOfOne]

9 hours ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

Hope springs eternal. And this is spring, meteorologically speaking.

What is this "hope" you speak of?