There remains a great distance between MLB players and owners despite reports saying that both sides are close to an agreement, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.
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A source on the MLBPA’s side of the negotiation said that any suggestion that a deal is within striking distance is “beyond absurd” as players want to see significant movement on the competitive bargaining tax (luxury tax). Players remain disappointed that MLB has only budged just $1 million on CBT from $214 to $215 million.
While the sides moved toward each other on some topics, they remained far apart on the biggest economic issues: luxury tax thresholds and rates, the minimum salary and the new pre-arbitration bonus pool.
Players were angered by the state of negotiations at the end of Saturday’s session and would not commit to extending talks. After internal discussions, they agreed to meet for a seventh staight day Sunday.
MLB says if there is not an agreement by the end of Monday, it would start cancelling regular-season games because there will not be enough training time to play a full schedule. Players have not said whether they agree to that as a deadline and could make due with a shorter spring training.
Once Monday passes, the length of the schedule would become yet another issue in the dispute, along with possible lost pay and service time.
The union has told MLB if games are missed and salaries are lost, clubs should not expect players to agree to management proposals to expand the postseason and allow advertisements on uniforms and helmets.
Teams agreed for the first time to credit a full year of major league service to players who finish first or second in Rookie of the Year voting in each league by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, as long as they are among the top 100 prospects and did not spend the full season on the big league roster. This would address the union’s contention that teams are delaying debuts of budding stars such as Kris Bryant to delay their free agency.
The sides also agreed that the proposed lottery in the annual amateur draft would be for the first six selections. While the union thought it was on the verge of an agreement on that topic Friday, teams angered the union by linking that to players agreeing to expand the postseason from 10 teams to 14, rather the 12 the union prefers.
The players moved toward MLB on salary arbitration, cutting from 75% to 35% for those who would be eligible from the group with at least two seasons of service but less than three. Management says it will not move from 22%, the cutoff since 2013.
Clubs stayed at a $214 million tax threshold, up from $210 million last season, and increased their 2023 proposal by $1 million to $215 million. They left 2024 at $216 million with $2 million hikes in each of the final two seasons.
Teams cut the tax rate for exceeding the threshold from 50% to 45%, lowered the rate for exceeding by $20 million from 75% to 62% and the proposal for exceeding by $40 million from 100% to 95%.
MLB characterized its tax proposal as intentionally lousy, in response to a union tax proposal teams felt was equally lousy.
Players object to the rates as increases from the current figures of 20% for the first threshold, 32% for the second and 62.5% for the third. Clubs say they in turn are eliminating higher rates for recidivist teams that exceed the initial threshold in consecutive years.
The union would raise the threshold to $245 million this year and increase it to $273 million by 2026. It would keep rates of the expired agreement and eliminate non-financial penalties.
While the sides have agreed to the pre-arbitration bonus pool from central revenue, the union wants $115 million distributed to 150 players and management wants $20 million to be split among 30.
The union withdrew its proposal to cut revenue sharing by $30 million annually but kept its plan to give small-market teams an incentive to grow locally generated revenue. The union would have the incentive money designated from central revenue, which it estimates would cost any club no more than $1 million in a year in revenue sharing.
The union also kept its proposal to limit optional assignments to five annually. Teams had tied that to a provision regulating the number of minor league contracts but then withdrew the proposal.
Teams inserted a new obstacle to a deal, proposing on-field rules changes could be made with 45 days’ notice by a committee comprised of six management officials, two union representatives and one umpire. Currently, management can only change rules with union consent or unilaterally with one year notice.
The MLB proposal would likely pave the way for a pitch clock.
Owners still are proposing an international draft, which the union opposes.
The six days of negotiations on central economics this week matched the total from the start of the lockout through Feb. 19.
Mets pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Francisco Lindor, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole and free agent reliever Andrew Miller were among the players at the talks. Baseball’s ninth work stoppage, it first since 1995, was in its 87th day.
-With files from the Associated Press.
A source on the MLBPA’s side of the negotiation said that any suggestion that a deal is within striking distance is “beyond absurd” as players want to see significant movement on the competitive bargaining tax (luxury tax). Players remain disappointed that MLB has only budged just $1 million on CBT from $214 to $215 million.
While the sides moved toward each other on some topics, they remained far apart on the biggest economic issues: luxury tax thresholds and rates, the minimum salary and the new pre-arbitration bonus pool.
Players were angered by the state of negotiations at the end of Saturday’s session and would not commit to extending talks. After internal discussions, they agreed to meet for a seventh staight day Sunday.
MLB says if there is not an agreement by the end of Monday, it would start cancelling regular-season games because there will not be enough training time to play a full schedule. Players have not said whether they agree to that as a deadline and could make due with a shorter spring training.
Once Monday passes, the length of the schedule would become yet another issue in the dispute, along with possible lost pay and service time.
The union has told MLB if games are missed and salaries are lost, clubs should not expect players to agree to management proposals to expand the postseason and allow advertisements on uniforms and helmets.
Teams agreed for the first time to credit a full year of major league service to players who finish first or second in Rookie of the Year voting in each league by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, as long as they are among the top 100 prospects and did not spend the full season on the big league roster. This would address the union’s contention that teams are delaying debuts of budding stars such as Kris Bryant to delay their free agency.
The sides also agreed that the proposed lottery in the annual amateur draft would be for the first six selections. While the union thought it was on the verge of an agreement on that topic Friday, teams angered the union by linking that to players agreeing to expand the postseason from 10 teams to 14, rather the 12 the union prefers.
The players moved toward MLB on salary arbitration, cutting from 75% to 35% for those who would be eligible from the group with at least two seasons of service but less than three. Management says it will not move from 22%, the cutoff since 2013.
Clubs stayed at a $214 million tax threshold, up from $210 million last season, and increased their 2023 proposal by $1 million to $215 million. They left 2024 at $216 million with $2 million hikes in each of the final two seasons.
Teams cut the tax rate for exceeding the threshold from 50% to 45%, lowered the rate for exceeding by $20 million from 75% to 62% and the proposal for exceeding by $40 million from 100% to 95%.
MLB characterized its tax proposal as intentionally lousy, in response to a union tax proposal teams felt was equally lousy.
Players object to the rates as increases from the current figures of 20% for the first threshold, 32% for the second and 62.5% for the third. Clubs say they in turn are eliminating higher rates for recidivist teams that exceed the initial threshold in consecutive years.
The union would raise the threshold to $245 million this year and increase it to $273 million by 2026. It would keep rates of the expired agreement and eliminate non-financial penalties.
While the sides have agreed to the pre-arbitration bonus pool from central revenue, the union wants $115 million distributed to 150 players and management wants $20 million to be split among 30.
The union withdrew its proposal to cut revenue sharing by $30 million annually but kept its plan to give small-market teams an incentive to grow locally generated revenue. The union would have the incentive money designated from central revenue, which it estimates would cost any club no more than $1 million in a year in revenue sharing.
The union also kept its proposal to limit optional assignments to five annually. Teams had tied that to a provision regulating the number of minor league contracts but then withdrew the proposal.
Teams inserted a new obstacle to a deal, proposing on-field rules changes could be made with 45 days’ notice by a committee comprised of six management officials, two union representatives and one umpire. Currently, management can only change rules with union consent or unilaterally with one year notice.
The MLB proposal would likely pave the way for a pitch clock.
Owners still are proposing an international draft, which the union opposes.
The six days of negotiations on central economics this week matched the total from the start of the lockout through Feb. 19.
Mets pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Francisco Lindor, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole and free agent reliever Andrew Miller were among the players at the talks. Baseball’s ninth work stoppage, it first since 1995, was in its 87th day.
-With files from the Associated Press.
MLB calls talks 'productive' while MLBPA says sides are still 'very far apart' entering deadline day
Bob Nightengale,
USA TODAY
JUPITER, Fla. — Major League Baseball and the players union spent Sunday exchanging various hypotheticals without a single formal proposal, and it just might have been their most productive day in their week-long negotiations at Roger Dean Stadium.
But, just like everything else they’ve been unable to agree upon, the two sides did not share the same optimism about what occurred during Sunday's sessions on the 88th day of the lockout. MLB called it a “productive meeting" while union officials said the sides are still “very far apart’’ on significant issues.
JUPITER, Fla. — Major League Baseball and the players union spent Sunday exchanging various hypotheticals without a single formal proposal, and it just might have been their most productive day in their week-long negotiations at Roger Dean Stadium.
But, just like everything else they’ve been unable to agree upon, the two sides did not share the same optimism about what occurred during Sunday's sessions on the 88th day of the lockout. MLB called it a “productive meeting" while union officials said the sides are still “very far apart’’ on significant issues.
© Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports MLB and the MLBA did not exchange a single formal proposal Sunday, the day before the league's deadline for getting a deal done to avoid the cancellation of games.
In fact, they have yet to agree on a single major economic issue.
Still, there’s a glimmer of hope that talks are moving in the right direction, and the two sides are scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. ET Monday in hopes of reaching a deal to preserve the start of the regular season.
While MLB insisted that a deal must be completed by Monday evening to assure that the regular season starts on March 31, the two sides believe that if significant progress is made, their talks could extend into Tuesday or even later in the week without needing to delay or shorten the 162-game season.
MLB and the players union engaged in four negotiating sessions in small groups, with no owners and only three players on hand Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium. They also spoke several times by phone. MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem and chief union negotiator Bruce Meyer had several one-on-one exchanges.
They addressed everything from the luxury tax, to the minimum salary, to the bonus pool, to expanded playoffs. They didn’t agree on any of the remaining economic issues, but it’s possible that everything could be linked with trade-offs, reaching a compromise on everything at once.
The biggest issue remains the luxury tax, with the two sides last exchanging proposals that left them a total of $204 million apart. The union is seeking a luxury tax of $245 million in 2022, $250 million in 2023, $257 million in 2024, $264 million in 2025 and $273 million in 2026. MLB’s last formal proposal was $214 million in 2022, $215 million in 2023, $216 million in 2024, $218 million in 2025 and $222 million in 2026. It also included stiffer tax penalties than the last collective bargaining agreement, charging 45% for crossing the first tax tier, 62% on the second tier, and 95% for the third tier.
They also are $135,000 apart in the minimum salaries in 2022, with MLB offering $640,000 while the union is at $775,000.
Bob Nightengale's Notebook: MLB's lockout is doing more permanent damage every single day
First COVID, now a lockout: MLB labor dispute latest blow for spring training businesses
MLB continues to seek a 14-team playoff format while the union wants to keep it to 12 teams. The number of potential playoff games would remain the same, however, considering the team with the best record in each league would receive a first-round bye in the 14-team format. If they agree on the number of playoff teams, there will be a lottery for the first six picks in the amateur draft to stop teams from intentionally losing to secure top draft picks.
MLB has offered to provide a bonus pool of $20 million for pre-arbitration players while the union is seeking $115 million.
The union was hoping to expand the salary arbitration class to 35% of those players who have at least two years of service and not three, but MLB adamantly opposes any change, keeping it at 22%.
So, plenty of major issues still remain.
Time is running out before regular season games will be canceled.
But, for at least one more day in Jupiter, Florida, they have at least promised to meet again.
Has enough progress been made to reach an agreement by Monday night, or at least by mid-week?
We’re about to find out.
In fact, they have yet to agree on a single major economic issue.
Still, there’s a glimmer of hope that talks are moving in the right direction, and the two sides are scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. ET Monday in hopes of reaching a deal to preserve the start of the regular season.
While MLB insisted that a deal must be completed by Monday evening to assure that the regular season starts on March 31, the two sides believe that if significant progress is made, their talks could extend into Tuesday or even later in the week without needing to delay or shorten the 162-game season.
MLB and the players union engaged in four negotiating sessions in small groups, with no owners and only three players on hand Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium. They also spoke several times by phone. MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem and chief union negotiator Bruce Meyer had several one-on-one exchanges.
They addressed everything from the luxury tax, to the minimum salary, to the bonus pool, to expanded playoffs. They didn’t agree on any of the remaining economic issues, but it’s possible that everything could be linked with trade-offs, reaching a compromise on everything at once.
The biggest issue remains the luxury tax, with the two sides last exchanging proposals that left them a total of $204 million apart. The union is seeking a luxury tax of $245 million in 2022, $250 million in 2023, $257 million in 2024, $264 million in 2025 and $273 million in 2026. MLB’s last formal proposal was $214 million in 2022, $215 million in 2023, $216 million in 2024, $218 million in 2025 and $222 million in 2026. It also included stiffer tax penalties than the last collective bargaining agreement, charging 45% for crossing the first tax tier, 62% on the second tier, and 95% for the third tier.
They also are $135,000 apart in the minimum salaries in 2022, with MLB offering $640,000 while the union is at $775,000.
Bob Nightengale's Notebook: MLB's lockout is doing more permanent damage every single day
First COVID, now a lockout: MLB labor dispute latest blow for spring training businesses
MLB continues to seek a 14-team playoff format while the union wants to keep it to 12 teams. The number of potential playoff games would remain the same, however, considering the team with the best record in each league would receive a first-round bye in the 14-team format. If they agree on the number of playoff teams, there will be a lottery for the first six picks in the amateur draft to stop teams from intentionally losing to secure top draft picks.
MLB has offered to provide a bonus pool of $20 million for pre-arbitration players while the union is seeking $115 million.
The union was hoping to expand the salary arbitration class to 35% of those players who have at least two years of service and not three, but MLB adamantly opposes any change, keeping it at 22%.
So, plenty of major issues still remain.
Time is running out before regular season games will be canceled.
But, for at least one more day in Jupiter, Florida, they have at least promised to meet again.
Has enough progress been made to reach an agreement by Monday night, or at least by mid-week?
We’re about to find out.
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