Major League Baseball was set to kick off its annual Spring training on Tuesday, February 15, but that didn't happen. Why? The MLB has been in a lockout since December 2, 2021, despite its planned season opening on March 31. There have been three MLB lockouts in the past (1973, '76, '90) that have been lifted before the beginning of the season - but this year fans are not feeling as optimistic. Here's what we know so far.
For starters, the lockout began over continuous disagreements among Major League Baseball and the Players Association over significant economic decisions for a new CBA (Collective bargaining agreement). Despite the league's proposal to lay back on a few of their demands, the union rejected their suggestions, and negotiations are at a standstill. Dan Halem, Chief Legal Officer, and Richard Monfort, Owner/Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club, were less than thrilled with the proposals presented. That is when the lockout began. The two sides are continuing to negotiate over the core "rules of employment and the financial structure of the game." Yikes.
The MLBPA came out of the meeting with MLB unimpressed by the offer from the league and there’s very little progress made between the two sides in negotiations
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) February 12, 2022
According to Sportsnaut, the lockout freezes "all MLB-related off-season transactions, prevents teams from holding workouts and barred players from communicating with staff." Doesn't sound great. However, at last week's Owners Meeting, Rob Manfred says, "I'm an optimist... I believe we will agree on a time to play our regular schedule… We're doing everything we can to get a deal done for our fans." Some are more hopeful than others regarding Opening Day - but it appears the meetings have not been going over particularly well, according to staff writer Joon Lee.
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Time is now the only factor, folks, as we wonder who will give in to the pressure of the game first. We hope some agreements can be made with only a few weeks until Opening Day, as we start putting bets on our favorite teams for the season. Will the Atlanta Braves win the World Series for the second year in a row? Make sure to tune in for more MLB updates...
