MLB lockout update today: Complete timeline of events
By Mark Powell
After a wild night of MLB lockout negotiations, the two sides are perhaps closer than ever before. Could a deal be done to avoid the cancelation of more games?
MLB and MLBPA sent proposals across midtown late into the Manhattan night on Tuesday, hoping to reach a deal before another self-imposed deadline by Rob Manfred an Co, in which they’d have to cancel more games if an agreement wasn’t reached by Wednesday morning.
Well, here were are on Wednesday and said deadline has proven to be nothing more than a fancy bargaining tactic. The players and owners are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday morning with a new proposal from the Players’ Association, hopefully with some edits the owners won’t find insulting. Of course, everything insults these people, so the odds aren’t really in their favor.
MLB lockout tweets
The lockout could be nearing a close, but the insiders have all the exclusive information. Here’s a recap:
Good news: Progress and compromises on both sides are being made in today’s MLB negotiations.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 8, 2022
Cautionary news: It’s a similar sentiment of a week ago.
We’ll see if it culminates in a new CBA deal in the next 24 hours.
Talks are still progressing, key issues remain fluid, and it appears as if it could be an awfully long night of negotiations.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 9, 2022
These initial sentiments — overwhelmingly positive — should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s a similar tactic the owners used just last week to try and turn the media and fan reaction against the players. It did not work.
MLB's written proposal has been submitted to the union. Everything remains fluid as they negotiate deep into the night:
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 9, 2022
_Luxury tax: $230 million that escalates to about $242 million.
_Minimum salary: $700,000 that escalates to about $770,000
_Pre-arbitration pool: $40 million
The International Draft has been a sticking point all day in negotiations with players, ex-players, executives and agents weighing in and providing their input.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 9, 2022
Much of the reason these two sides have yet to reach a compromise is the luxury tax.
MLB seeks to add a 4th tier for the very biggest spending teams that r way over the luxury tax threshold, to be taxed at the highest rate. This is likely to affect only Mets and Dodgers in ‘22. Word is, Mets owner Steve Cohen is OK with it if MLB thinks it’s for the greater good.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 9, 2022
Details on the proposed 4th tax tier for the biggest of big spenders (might actually just affect the Mets in ‘22 depending on what Dodgers do) https://t.co/ESX0ThJIRJ
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 9, 2022
An international draft has also been discussed, along with rule changes. A pitch clock, wider bases and banning the shift have already been discussed.
MLB is still hoping to institute an international draft and will eliminate draft picks compensation for free agents if the union accepts that tradeoff. Still undecided, but it appears international draft has a chance to come to fruition.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 9, 2022
At the moment it appears the sides are sticking with the 12-team postseason plan. The sides still haven’t been able to agree on a 14-team format as players seem to favor a 5-game initial series and ghost wins to give a nice advantage to division winners. MLB is against ghosts.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 9, 2022
The last update we have is from the players’ association, which is reviewing all the details of MLB’s proposal as we speak. Hopefully, a solid counteroffer will be enough to keep the ball rolling.
MLB official says the Players Association requested to speak to its board again early tomorrow before coming back with a proposal, and the PA will be getting back to MLB tomorrow morning. So, to be clear, MLB is not canceling games at this moment right now.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 9, 2022
Seemingly at the last minute, owners tried to pass an international draft, which many Latin players were not for.
International draft “non-starter” for Latin players and might not be acceptable to union even with major MLB give, sources tell @TheAthletic. Union in latest proposal still wants qualifying offer eliminated, as well as higher CBT thresholds and pre-arb pool than MLB has offered.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 9, 2022
For now, negotiations are sidetracked and neither side is willing to meet in the middle.
MLB strike update
While not technically a strike — as the owners locked out the players, not the other way around — the latest lockout update is that the players are meeting with their board to discuss the owners offer, and potentially counter before the cancelation of more regular season games.
Next. Inside the Clubhouse: A lockout catastrophe of MLB’s own making. dark