MLB lockout update today: Where things stand after agreement on international draft
By Scott Rogust
Here is everything you need to know about the status of the MLB lockout after another week of games were “canceled.”
There was yet another deadline for MLB and the Player’s Association to reach a deal, and that was Wednesday, March 9. But, due to disagreements regarding the international draft and qualifying offers, the MLB announced that another week of games are being removed from the 2022 season.
Even though both sides could not reach an agreement on Wednesday, they are still scheduled to talk on Thursday. Here is the latest update on the MLB lockout.
MLB lockout update after league removes another week of games from schedule
As mentioned earlier, one of the main issues that derailed any progress on reaching a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement was the international draft. The league wants to implement it, while the players are against it. The league then gave the players three options regarding the international draft, which you can read in The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal’s tweet below.
MLB answered PA proposal by offering three options, as @JesseRogersESPN said. 1. Agree to eliminate draft-pick comp, examine int’l draft. 2. Give MLB option to reopen CBA in couple of years if union won’t agree to draft. 3. Agree to int’l draft and elimination of draft-pick comp.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 9, 2022
The players countered those three options by pushing a deadline for an agreement on an international draft until Nov. 15, per The Athletic’s Evan Drellich.
Players such as Max Scherzer and Francisco Lindor were among those tweeting their dissatisfaction with where things stand.
I was in FL. We never offered the Int’l Draft. We did discuss it, but MLB told us they were NOT going to offer anything for it. At that point, we informed all players & agreed to no draft.
— Max Scherzer (@Max_Scherzer) March 10, 2022
This is MLB muddying the waters & deflecting blame. Fans, pls hang in there with us.
Get informed before jumping to conclusions. pic.twitter.com/VA34RbC3K0
— Francisco Lindor (@Lindor12BC) March 10, 2022
If there is no agreement, then the qualifying offer returns for the 2022-23 offseason and the international system remains in place.
The counterproposal players of the three options MLB proposed, per source: Parties have until Nov. 15 to agree to an international draft. If they don’t agree on it, then qualifying offer returns after 2022-23 offseason and international system also returns to status quo.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 9, 2022
That resulted in the league announcing that another week on the 2022 schedule was removed, meaning that Opening Day would not take place until at least Apr. 14. Important to note that in Manfred’s statement, he did not use the word “canceled.” Jayson Stark of The Athletic tweeted out that he heard the MLB can still have a 162-game schedule if they are to agree to a deal on Thursday, March 10.
In regard to those talks, they will be taking place over the phone. Drellich notes that while both sides are going to discuss the international draft and the qualifying offer, they are still apart on other issues.
MLB, MLBPA are still discussing qualifying offer, international draft, but gaps remain on other issues too, and sides intend to talk all day today. Like yesterday, a lot of that might be by phone, but communication is constant. Players made last global counter offer yesterday.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 10, 2022
Jeff Passan reported there was an agreement reached on the international draft
This is significant as the two sides work to reach a resolution.
There is an agreement on the international draft, a source tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 10, 2022
Draft pick compensation will be removed if the parties reach a negotiated agreement on an international draft by July 25. Status quo on international entry and draft compensation if no deal is reached by July 25.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 10, 2022
Much like you have in the past couple of weeks, stay tuned, as we will keep you updated on the latest on the MLB lockout.
Update: Negotiations are now focused on luxury tax thresholds and minimum salaries.
Latest MLB proposal, per source:
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 10, 2022
Luxury-tax thresholds - $230M to $244M over course of five-year deal. (increase of $2M in final year from last offer)
Pre-arb pool: $50M (increase of $10M)
Minimum salaries, $700K to $780K. (increase of $10K in final year)
3 p.m. “deadline.”
Next. Marcus Stroman outlines exactly what players are fighting for in MLB lockout. dark