The Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and the owners of MLB teams met for the sixth consecutive day this Saturday but without making any further progress in their intention to reach a new collective agreement that would allow the active work stoppage to be lifted since December 2021.
Among the points that generate the most disagreement is the luxury tax, which the players have asked to raise from $214 million dollars to $273 million, however, the MLB has put on the table a minimum increase that would take the tax to $222 millions.
Regarding the issue of years of service to enter the arbitration process or free agency, the owners of the teams have proposed giving a year of service to the players who finish first or second in the voting for the Rookie of the Year award.
On the other hand, one of the points in which both parties agreed, was to limit to five the number of times a player is demoted to the Minor Leagues after he is promoted to the Major Leagues, an action that to date is unlimited.
In turn, one point on which they cannot agree is that of the extended postseason since the MLB proposes that it be 12 teams and the MLBPA only accepts 12 alleging that with more opportunities to transcend, teams would bet less on free agency.
After no definitive progress was made this Saturday on any of the points, it is expected that both parties will meet again this Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, taking into account account that the league set February 28 as the deadline to reach an agreement, something that at the time seemed almost impossible.
For its part, it must be remembered that the MLB announced that the start of Spring Training scheduled for this Saturday, it was postponed until March 8, something that could be extended if there is no agreement for the last day of this month.
The owners have threatened to discount the players for each game that is not played in the regular season, a decision that has not been well received, nor accepted by the Union, but that undoubtedly adds , to the already complex negotiation process that they are developing.
Also read:
– MLB Commissioner joined the negotiations with the MLBPA that continue to progress slowly
– Walker Buehler spoke about the negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA: “The money grew, ask our employers”
2021