MLB owners commenced a lockout of the players following the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement on Dec. 1. Here is the latest on where things stand with the work stoppage...
March 10, 6:25 p.m.
The owners unanimously ratified the new collective bargaining agreement, officially ending the lockout, and all 162 games will be played.
"I am genuinely thrilled to be able to say that Major League Baseball is back and we’re going to play 162 games," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a news conference on Thursday night.
With both sides passing the the new deal, free agency and trades can commence beginning at 7 p.m.
The lockout is over, and baseball is back.
March 10, 3:18 p.m.
MLBPA has approved a deal to end the lockout, paving the way for a full 162-game season.
The players voted 26-12 to approve the deal.
Sources told SNY's Andy Martino that the call to ratify the CBA is scheduled for 6 p.m. with free agency beginning after.
The expectation is that players will be required to report to spring training on or around March 13, with spring training games starting around March 17 and the regular season starting on April 7.
MLB’s last proposal to the Players’ Association was headlined by a $10 million bump to $50 million for the pre-arbitration bonus pool, while the luxury tax threshold took a $2 million jump to $244 million in the final year. It was still $230 million for this season, while the MLBPA had proposed $232 million.
Also in the MLB proposal, minimum salaries went up $10,000 to $780,000 in the final year of the new CBA. It remained at $700,000 for this season.
March 10, 2:55 p.m.
The players are in the process of voting on the league's latest proposal, which is headlined by a $10 million bump to $50 million for the pre-arbitration bonus pool, as well as a higher luxury tax and a minimum salary that ends at $780,000 in the final year of the deal.
While there are multiple reports of optimism regarding the players' feelings on the counteroffer, there is still debate on the players' side over whether to accept it, reports SNY's Andy Martino.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the union executive board appears to be voting against approving the proposal, with the overall vote to be determined by the remaining players. Per Heyman, there are "a couple" of Mets players who are concerned about the luxury tax specifics in the proposal.
Heyman had reported that the initial read was "very promising" except for the fact that MLB wants a lawsuit from 2018 dropped. The lawsuit is from the union against the Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates from that year with the allegation that those teams did not spend enough to be competitive.
MLB gave the union a 3 p.m. deadline to respond to this offer.
March 10, 11:31 a.m.
MLB and the MLBPA have reached an agreement on the international draft issue.
Per the agreement, the sides have until July 25 to come to an agreement on the draft. If a deal is reached, the qualifying offer and associated draft pick compensation will be eliminated. If a deal is not reached, the QO and draft pick compensation would remain.
In the event the sides reach an agreement on the international draft, it will go into effect in 2024.
The rest of negotiations on the CBA were being held up by the international draft issue. With that situation now resolved, the sides can continue working toward an agreement to end the lockout.
The two sides are close on the luxury tax, with the union's latest offer asking for $232 million in the first year of the deal while MLB is at $230 million. On the bonus pool, the players are at $65 million and the league is at $40 million.
When it comes to the minimum salary, the two sides are painfully close, with the league offering $700,000 in the first year of a new CBA and that salary maxing out at $770,000 in the final year. The players are asking for $710,000 in the first year, and have it maxing out at $780,000.
After talks broke down late Wednesday afternoon before quickly being revived, commissioner Rob Manfred scrapped two more regular season series, but used the word "remove" instead of "cancel" when doing so. That is fueling the hope that a full 162-game schedule is still possible if a deal is reached today.
March 10, 10:24 a.m.
The league and union are continuing dialogue on Thursday while trying to resolve the international draft/qualifying offer issue, reports SNY's Andy Martino.
Martino adds that figuring out the international draft/QO situation is "not nearly the final hurdle toward a deal," with the players still waiting for a counteroffer on their latest proposal on the luxury tax, pre-arbitration bonus pool, and more.
March 9, 11:15 p.m.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the negotiators for the owners and players will talk on Thursday morning, with there being “hope to resurrect things” following the Players’ Association's offer to work on an international draft.
If the draft is agreed to, according to Heyman, draft-pick compensation (the qualifying offer) would be removed from the new CBA, an idea that originally came from Rob Manfred.
MLB and the MLBPA hit a roadblock when talking about these issues earlier on Wednesday night, but it now sounds like the two sides are at least willing to start talking things through once again.
March 9, 8:55 p.m.
Just when it sounded like the league and players were finished talking for the day, a small glimmer of hope has appeared.
Earlier on Wednesday, the league announced that another two series of regular season games had been canceled as the sides could once again not agree to a deal, with discussions centering on a potential international draft and draft-pick compensation.
But the two sides are still talking to try to resolve the international draft/draft-pick compensation (qualifying offer) issue that had become a roadblock earlier in the day. In-person negotiations are finished for the night, but the sides remain in contact.
Per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the players made an offer late in the day revolving around an idea that originally came from commissioner Rob Manfred: they would spend the season working on a potential international draft and if that didn’t pan out then the current draft-pick compensation system would come into play.
The Players’ Association's latest offer on this international draft issue came after the 6:00 p.m. deadline, which is why the league announced more canceled games.
Meanwhile, Mets pitcher and MLBPA board member Max Scherzer tweeted on Wednesday night that the players were not the first to include an international draft in their offers, and that it was the league who first included it.
“This is MLB muddying the waters & deflecting blame,” Scherzer wrote. “Fans, pls hang in there with us.”
March 9, 7:25 p.m.
Shortly after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred canceled two more regular season series, the Players’ Association responded with a statement, calling the cancelation “completely unnecessary.”
“The owners’ decision to cancel additional games is completely unnecessary,” the statement reads. “After making a set of comprehensive proposals to the league earlier this afternoon, and being told substantive responses were forthcoming, Players have yet to hear back.
“Players want to play, and we cannot wait to get back on the field for the best fans in the world. Our top priority remains the finalization of a fair contract for all Players, and we will continue negotiations toward that end.”
March 9, 6:35 p.m.
The first two regular season series have already been canceled by Major League Baseball, and now the next two series have been canceled as well.
With no deal in place, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Wednesday night that Opening Day has now been pushed back to April 14 at the earliest.
Here is Manfred’s full statement:
“In a last-ditch effort to preserve a 162-game season, this week we have made good-faith proposals that address the specific concerns voiced by the MLBPA and would have allowed the players to return to the field immediately. The Clubs went to extraordinary lengths to meet the substantial demands of the MLBPA. On the key economic issues that have posed stumbling blocks, the Clubs proposed ways to bridge gaps to preserve a full schedule. Regrettably, after our second late-night bargaining session in a week, we remain without a deal.
“Because of the logistical realities of the calendar, another two series are being removed from the schedule, meaning that Opening Day is postponed until April 14th. We worked hard to reach an agreement and offered a fair deal with significant improvements for the players and our fans. I am saddened by this situation’s continued impact on our game and all those who are a part of it, especially our loyal fans.
“We have the utmost respect for our players and hope they will ultimately choose to accept the fair agreement they have been offered.”
With this latest round of cancelations, the Mets will lose a four-game series against the Washington Nationals and a three-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees will lose three games against the Boston Red Sox and four against the Toronto Blue Jays.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the players rejected all three of the league’s options for the international draft/draft pick compensation and offered their own proposal to remove the qualifying offer this year, and if both sides can’t agree to an international draft by Nov. 15, the qualifying offer returns.
March 9, 5:43 p.m.
SNY's Andy Martino reports that the initial reaction of two people on the ownership side to the union's counteroffer to the league's latest proposal was "very pessimistic."
Martino notes that the union's biggest issue is the qualifying offer/draft pick compensation being tied to the proposed international draft, with the union rejecting the draft in its counter.
In the union's counter, the players are also seeking higher luxury tax thresholds and a higher pre-arbitration bonus pool than the league offered.
Regarding the luxury tax, the league recently increased its offer to $230 million in the first year of the deal, with escalations in the following years to $232 million, $236 million, $240 million, and $242 million. The union's counter asks for $232 million in the first year, followed by $235 million, $240 million, $245 million, and $250 million in subsequent years.
As far as the pre-arbitration bonus pool, the union has lowered its ask to $60 million, with the league at $40 million.
When it comes to the minimum salary, the union dropped its ask in the first year of the deal to $710,000. MLB is currently at $700,000. Both the union and league have the minimum salary escalating to $780,000 by the end of the proposed CBA.
In the league’s latest proposal, the owners offered the players three options regarding the international draft:
1. The international draft starts in 2024, and the draft-pick compensation system (qualifying offer) goes away.
2. No international draft, but the draft-pick compensation system stays in place.
3. Draft-pick compensation is eliminated and the players agree to consider an international draft. If players don’t agree to an international draft by Nov. 15, 2022, the league can opt out of CBA after the 2024 season, making it a three-year deal rather than the standard five years.
March 9, 2:19 p.m.
Representatives from the union, led by negotiator Bruce Meyer, made a counteroffer to MLB on Wednesday afternoon.
The union contingent departed the league offices at roughly 2 p.m., likely to head back to the nearby MLBPA offices to await a response.
The most significant issue left in negotiations is the potential elimination of the qualifying offer and draft pick compensation, which the league has tied to the implementation of an international draft, reports Evan Drellich of The Athletic.
Under the current rules, teams can sign any international player during each dedicated yearly signing period while working within their allotted bonus pools.
An international draft would be a big change to that system, with it more closely resembling the current amateur player draft, where players are paid near their slot value, which is determined by where they're selected.
Other elements of the draft include increased spending on international players with at least $17 million extra every year. Also, the number of players eligible to be signed will be 1,000 total with more than 600 of them being draft picks, while the rest would be undrafted free agents.
Per Maria Torres of The Athletic, in the league's current proposal, the top pick in a 20-round international draft would receive $5.5 million, which is comparable to what the slot value was for the No. 7 pick in the 2021 amateur draft.
The international draft -- if agreed to -- wouldn't be implemented until 2024.
March 9, 9:20 a.m.
After a marathon negotiating session between MLB and the MLBPA on Tuesday and into early Wednesday, talks will resume on Wednesday with the players expected to counter the league's latest proposal.
Before talks wrapped up early Wednesday morning, the players had asked for some time to review the offer before getting back to the league.
With progress made during the roughly 17-hour session, with Tuesday having been another self-imposed deadline for the league to get a deal done before canceling more games, the possibility of a full 162-game season remains if a deal can be struck on Wednesday.
Per SNY's Andy Martino, there is still "plenty of work to do" in order for a deal to be reached.
The league moved toward the players' asks on Tuesday, increasing the first luxury tax threshold for the 2022 season to $230 million (with escalations over the course of the CBA) and adding another $10 million to the pre-arbitration bonus pool.
As far as the expanded playoffs, the league has a 12-team playoff field in its most recent proposal. The players have largely opposed the possibility of a 14-team field.
The offer from MLB has some strings, though, including new penalties attached to the increased luxury tax levels, and the tying of the removal of the qualifying offer/draft pick compensation to the implementation of an international draft.
March 9, 3:15 a.m.
After more than 17 hours of negotiations on Tuesday and into Wednesday, the Players’ Association has requested to consult with their executive board before submitting their counterproposal to the league, according to SNY Insider Andy Martino.
Martino also reports that "significant gaps" remain between the two sides.
The players are expected to submit their written counterproposal to the league on Wednesday morning.
No additional games have been canceled.
March 9, 2:40 a.m.
As the latest round of negotiations enter a 17th hour, the players are expected to submit their latest counterproposal soon, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
The league presented the players with a new proposal earlier on Tuesday night, increasing the CBT base threshold to $230 million for this season and increasing up to $242 million over the course of the proposed deal. MLB also proposed a new fourth surcharge threshold to the CBT, which would affect owners who spend more than $60 million over the base number.
This round of negotiations is the longest bargaining session the two sides have had during the lockout
March 9, 12:35 a.m.
The two sides have been negotiating for hours and have now gone past midnight, which had been a league-imposed deadline for a deal to be reached in order to still play a full 162-game season and avoid the cancelation of additional games beyond the first two series of the regular season.
March 9, 12:15 a.m.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported late on Tuesday night at the union was expected to send the league a counterproposal, noting that “the negotiating doesn’t stop at midnight assuming things are still progressing.”
March 8, 9:22 p.m.
As the two sides continue to go back and forth in New York on Tuesday, the owners have submitted a new written proposal to the players.
Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports that the owners have offered a CBT threshold starting at $230 million that runs up to $242 million over the course of the proposed deal.
The league had previously offered $228 million as their CBT threshold (up from $220 million prior to that), while the players were offering $238 million as their number.
Drellich also reports the league has offered a $40 million pre-arbitration bonus pool and a $700K minimum salary.
Per Drellich and Ken Rosenthal, MLB wants to add a fourth surcharge level to the CBT thresholds, something that would further penalize owners who spend well above the proposed $230 million base number.
This fourth surcharge threshold would be $60 million over the base CBT number, so in MLB’s latest proposal, this would start at $290 million and would only affect clubs that are looking to spend huge amounts of money.
March 8, 2:52 p.m.
Meetings are ongoing in Manhattan between MLB and the MLBPA with the 162-game season hanging in the balance and the potential of more canceled regular season games if a deal isn't reached by the league's self-imposed deadline at the end of the day.
The two sides have met at least twice today, with the most recent meeting lasting roughly 20 minutes and ending around 2:30 p.m.
Negotiators on hand from the league include Dan Halem and Morgan Sword.
The first two series of the regular season have already been canceled, but if a deal is reached today, the league is willing to reschedule those games while playing a full 162-game slate, paying players for that full slate, and granting each player a full year of service time.
Among the key issues that need to be agreed on: the luxury tax threshold, the bonus pool for pre-arbitration players, and the playoff format.
Before talks broke down last week, the league had agreed to a 12-team playoff format for 2022 after seeking a 14-team format.
In recent days, it was reported that the players could potentially re-open talks on a 14-team playoff field in exchange for a higher luxury tax number, but the players had the 12-game format in their most recent proposal to the league.
March 8, 12:51 p.m.
SNY's Andy Martino reports that rhetoric between MLB and the Players Association has "softened a bit" from where it was on Sunday, with the sides in contact Tuesday while trying to negotiate a deal to end the lockout.
Per Martino, there was some "hope" that a deal could be reached by the end of Tuesday that would salvage a 162-game season.
Sources with direct knowledge of talks told Martino that the sides remained far apart on numbers and concepts, with significant gaps to bridge.
Specifically, according to sources with direct knowledge, MLB has not raised its offer of a $30 million bonus pool with no annual increased for pre-arbitration players. Additionally, there are also gaps when it comes to the luxury tax threshold, which the league recently increased to $228 million from $220 million for this season.
March 8, 8:59 a.m.
During Tuesday's bargaining sessions between the league and the union, a 162-game season could be salvaged or more games will be canceled, reports Evan Drellich of The Athletic.
Additionally, per the report, the Tuesday deadline that is being set by the league is not just for salvaging a 162-game season, but a deadline when it comes to the league's willingness to pay players for a full 162 games and to grant them a full year of service time.
Per multiple reports, MLB has informed the MLBPA that an additional week of games will be canceled if a deal to end the lockout is not reached on Tuesday.
As far as how a 162-game schedule could possibly be salvaged, The Athletic notes that the two series that have been canceled can be rescheduled, with Opening Day (originally scheduled for March 31) pushed back.
According to The Athletic, during discussions between the two sides on Monday, the league offered to raise the luxury tax threshold for this season to $228 million, up from their latest offer of $220 million. The players have been asking for the threshold this season to be $238 million.
March 7, 9:52 a.m.
With no sign that the lockout is any closer to being over now than it was when talks broke down on March 1, more regular season games could be canceled soon.
The first swath of games was canceled on March 1 shortly after the union rejected the final offer MLB made before the league's self-imposed deadline to reach a deal.
And with there now being just 31 days until the earliest possible Opening Day -- and with commissioner Rob Manfred wanting spring training to be roughly 28 days long -- more games will almost certainly be canceled in the coming days if a breakthrough does not happen in negotiations.
With the league wiping out the first two series of the regular season on March 1, it's fair to believe that it would possibly eliminate another two series if/when more regular season games are canceled.
Manfred has said that canceled games will not be rescheduled.
The two sides met formally on Sunday for the first time since talks broke down, but the offer from the union was met with derision by the league. And while the union suggested that the two sides should meet again on Monday, nothing has been scheduled.
March 6, 10:22 p.m.
MLB has been reluctant to increase the luxury tax higher than $220 million, but are willing to do so if the MLBPA "makes moves in other areas," reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Players want a luxury tax of at least $230 million.
Per The Athletic, the players would have to lower their ask for bonus arbitration pool money, among other things, in order for the league to increase the luxury tax threshold.
March 6. 5:00 p.m.
MLB spokesperson Glen Caplin told reporters outside Sunday's meeting that "The Players Association chose to come back to us with a proposal that was worse than Monday night."
In turn, Caplin called things "deadlocked" at the moment.
There is still no word about whether or not a meeting will be occurring on Monday between the parties.
March 6, 2:09 p.m.
The Players’ Association has given MLB its latest proposal in CBA negotiations, and SNY’s Andy Martino has some key details regarding what they’ve asked for.
They are as follows:
- Same Collective Bargaining Tax thresholds as before, starting this year at $238 million
- Same minimum salaries as previously stated (MLB ended up going to $700K after PA asked for $725K)
- Rejection of an international draft
- 12-team postseason
- Pre-arbitration pool moves down from $85 million to $80 million
- On-field changes can be implemented in 45 days if agreed to by a joint committee.
Next will be MLB’s answer to the proposal, with the MLBPA suggesting a meeting should happen on Monday. Nothing has been set in stone.
March 6, 12:29 p.m.
MLB’s contingent, led by Dan Halem, has made their way to the MLBPA offices today to resume their meetings, per SNY's Andy Martino.
It is the first formal discussion between both sides since no deal was reached in Jupiter, Fla.
The sides met for over 16 straight hours from last Monday morning into the wee hours of Tuesday negotiating and making progress, but talks went downhill throughout Tuesday afternoon.
March 5, 7:20 p.m.
One aspect of the labor discussions between MLB and the MLBPA has been a possible expanded playoffs. While MLB wants 14 teams, the union would accept 12 teams. But there was a proposal from the MLBPA that includes 14 teams and a "ghost win" option.
Max Scherzer made the case for a 14-team playoffs with a "ghost win" in a meeting with Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort on Monday evening. MLB didn't like the proposal and agreed to 12 teams as the "ghost win" concept was deemed unviable by the league.
The union's proposal would have a five-game first series with the No. 1 seed getting a bye. The No. 2 and No. 3 seeds would face off against the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds, but start the series up 1-0.
With both sides planning to meet on Sunday, the expanded playoffs will likely be revisited.
March 5, 3:21 p.m.
MLB and the MLBPA will have their first formal discussion on Sunday in New York.
It will be their first meeting since last Tuesday, where talks broke down after reports said the two sides were close to a deal.
The sides met for over 16-straight hours from Monday morning into the wee hours of Tuesday negotiating and making progress, but talks went downhill throughout Tuesday afternoon.
The union will offer written responses to all of the league's recent proposals, says Ken Rosenthal.
MLB negotiators Dan Halem and Morgan Sword and MLBPA negotiators Bruce Meyer and Ian Penny met for an informal discussion on Thursday.
March 4, 8:32 p.m.
While it was reported earlier on Friday that the MLBPA has approached the league with a new offer revolving around a 14-team postseason, MLB unfortunately was forced to cancel more spring training games.
As another week went by without a new CBA, the league announced on Friday that spring training games can now begin no earlier than March 18.
The first two series of the regular season have already been canceled, as MLB has made it clear that spring training must last for at least four weeks before the regular season can begin.
March 4, 4:03 p.m.
After unanimously rejecting MLB's final offer on March 1, the Players Association has approached MLB with an offer of its own -- to re-open talks on the 14-team postseason field, according to Buster Olney.
The MLBPA hopes that it can exchange this for more CBT flexibility, among other issues.
Prior to the 5 p.m. deadline on March 1, MLBPA and MLB had agreed to a new 12-team format, up from the 10-team format currently in place.
Sources on both sides of the CBA talks are hopeful that this can be the breakthrough needed to come to an agreement and start the season once again, according to the report.
March 4, 11:06 a.m.
The MLBPA is working on a response to the offer that was made by MLB on March 1 in advance of the league's self-imposed deadline, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
According to The Athletic, no meetings are currently scheduled between the two sides, but are expected to happen "soon."
The last offer from the league -- which it deemed its last and best offer before the deadline -- was not countered by the union, with the players rejecting it in unanimous fashion.
The league's proposal on March 1 included movement on the minimum salary (to $700,000, while the players were at $725,000), and modest movement when it came to the pre-arbitration pool. But there was no movement made on the luxury tax threshold, which remained at $220 million.
SNY's Andy Martino recently reported that four owners were opposed to going even as high as $220 million for the luxury tax threshold, perhaps setting up a difficult fight ahead as players seek for the threshold to be $238 million starting this season.
Two negotiators from each side met informally in New York City on March 3, which was the first contact between the sides since talks broke down. But that meeting was informal, and no official proposals were exchanged.
Elsewhere on the lockout front, with the first two series of the regular season canceled and those lost games impacting MLB workers beyond just the players, the union on Friday announced that it was launching a $1 million fund to help support workers who are affected.
The league will also be setting up a fund for workers who are impacted by the delay, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
March 3, 2:21 p.m.
MLB negotiators Dan Halem and Morgan Sword and MLBPA negotiators Bruce Meyer and Ian Penny met for an informal discussion on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
During the discussion, which lasted roughly 90 minutes, the major unsettled issues were discussed, as was the timing of future talks.
Thursday's meeting marked the first discussions since talks broke up on Tuesday afternoon after the union rejected what was the league's final offer before its self-imposed 5 p.m. deadline to cancel regular season games.
Shortly after the deadline passed, commissioner Rob Manfred canceled the first two series of the season, adding that those games would not be rescheduled.
Speaking on Tuesday, Meyer said that the union would attempt to have any lost games rescheduled, and that he would also seek to get players paid for a full 162 games.
As things currently stand, the earliest the regular season will start is April 7. But if the lockout goes much longer, additional games will be in danger of being canceled.
March 1, 5:20 p.m.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced Tuesday that the first two series of the regular season are canceled, and with the MLBPA traveling back to New York, "no agreement is possible until at least Thursday."
This comes after both sides rushed to try to initially meet a self-imposed Feb. 28 deadline to prevent games from being canceled. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, they decided to extend the deadline to 5 p.m. However, not enough progress was made.