MLB Lockout Explained, What Happened?

It has been 85 days since the MLB lockout began, and there has been little to no progress at all in the current situation. Almost 3 months in and the start of the 2022 baseball season is getting blurrier every day.

The Major League Baseball (MLB) had its latest meeting with its counterpart, the Players Association (MLBPA) last Wednesday (February 23) in Jupiter, Florida. Both parties still have not come to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) during the meeting.

Jupiter, Florida (Execs Meeting), Photo Courtesy of sbnation.com

The MLB and MLBPA will have another meeting on the 28th. This date was chosen to finalize a CBA and to be able to jumpstart the season as soon as possible so as not to further delay any season games. Regardless, the opening day is still set for March 31, 2022.

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Rob Manfred, Photo Courtesy of sports.yahoo.com

If ever they still do not come to an agreement, more meetings will emerge, until they come up with one – or NOT. But, until then, missed games after the season-opener will not be compensated by the league.

“A deadline is a deadline. Missed games are missed games. Salary will not be paid for those games.” – one of the league spokespeople said during an interview

What really was the cause of the lockout?

After the expiration of the previous CBA (Dec.2, 2021), the union decided to cause a lockout. This event shook the baseball community and put the league on notice.

Shohei Ohtani, Photo Courtesy of Bleacher Report

The Players Association wanted to give young players enough compensation by increasing the minimum salary and adding a pre-arbitration bonus. The union wanted a base minimum salary of $775,000 while getting a yearly increase of $30,000. Luxury taxes are yet to be discussed.

The latest offer the MLB gave was a starting minimum salary of $640,000 and a yearly increase of $10,000. Still very far from that of the union’s request, which the league thought was “absurd”. Last year, the MLB minimum was only about $570,500.

The union also wanted a $115 Million arbitration bonus for the pool of 150 baseball players.

Only for the league to counter them with an offer of $20 Million for 30 players (previously $15 Million). Players were supposed to be in training camps earlier this month but chose not to partake in any team training or events. Spring training games are already moved on the 5th of March, but judging by the looks of it, it’s unlikely to happen.

Both parties aren’t giving up. Someone has to be the bigger entity, and someone has to give way to the other. Until then, we probably won’t be seeing a single baseball game this year.

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Do you think the MLB lockout is justified? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.    

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