After Spring Training games were postponed at least until March 5, Major League Baseball and the Players Association (MLBPA) have met three consecutive days for collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.
The Spring Training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins is serving as the backdrop for an important week of meetings as the league and union attempt to find common ground for a new CBA.
MLB reportedly informed the MLBPA of a February 28 deadline to have an agreement in place and avoid pushing back Opening Day of the 2022 regular season from March 31. Though, the union isn’t thought to view the end of February as a drop-dead date.
As the sides have exchanged CBA proposals over the first few days in Florida, MLB team owners viewed the latest counter from the union in a negative fashion, according to Evan Drellich of The Athletic:
Major League Baseball owners felt the players took a step backward on Tuesday, while the players felt their offer simply matched the types of moves MLB itself made a day earlier, people with knowledge of the talks told The Athletic. On both days, the proposals have not appeared to build much momentum, or appeared to include anything other than incremental changes.
After initially seeking all players with at least two years of Major League service time to become eligible for salary arbitration, the MLBPA lowered that ask to 80% and 75% in subsequent offers.
Under the now-expired CBA, only 22% of players with two to three years of service time (Super Two) qualify for an additional year of salary arbitration. Though, in reducing the percentage of those who would qualify for Super Two status, the union sought increases in the minimum salary.
Their latest offer included the same $775,000 salary for 2022 that has been previously requested, but with $30,000 increases each season. MLB has been in the neighborhood of $615,000 to $630,000 as a starting point for minimum salary.
MLB wants more compromise from MLBPA
Although both sides have utilized the tactic of making a consolation in one area but seeking a more favorable outcome in another, MLB reportedly believes it is on the MLBPA to become more open to compromising in negotiations.
That stance could prove troublesome as the players very clearly are aligned and determined to see gains that better align with the league’s revenues and trajectory.
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