After 13 meetings that spanned nearly 17 hours over two calendar days in Jupiter Florida, MLB owners and the MLB Players Association made significant progress, according to reports.
Like they have for months, MLB and the MLB Players Association’s negotiating meandered methodically. Labor talks lasted two entire “Godfather” trilogy binges.
But unlike previous sessions, the owners and union worked close to striking a new collective bargaining agreement on Monday (and early Tuesday). And at 2:27 a.m. ET, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the two sides agreed to extend the deadline to reach a deal.
The work stoppage has lasted over 89 days — the second-longest in MLB history. But the end appears near.
Feb. 28 was MLB’s self-imposed deadline to finalize a new CBA in order to save a March 31 Opening Day. Although that specific date was arbitrary, having at least a perceived deadline may have jolted discussions.
Deadline Day’s negotiations appeared at first just like most previous bargaining meetings this winter: unproductive. According to multiple reporters, management struck a “threatening tone” and indicated an appetite to miss at least a month of regular season games. Another reporter described Monday’s morning negotiation session “certainly on the uglier side.”
The lack of progress on deadline day inspired players to vent on social media and fans to pile on owners.
Bryce Harper joked about playing for the Yomiuri Giants. Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt said “if only we had 43 more days to discuss these key issues…” in reference to MLB taking over a month to make a proposal after locking out its workforce.
But later in the day, MLB proposed two options centered around an expanded postseason — the union’s biggest bargaining chip — according to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich. One included a 14-team playoff with a larger minimum salary base, and the other featured a 12-team playoff with a slightly more modest minimum.
Neither proposal has been finalized, but multiple reporters suggested the union would prefer the 12-team option. The rough framework of a deal started to crystallize.
Expanded playoffs are worth about $100 million annually, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The MLBPA had previously said it would only agree to it if MLB guaranteed to pay them for all 162 games in 2022.
On the competitive balance tax, another critical issue for both sides, the MLBPA is seeking a $230 million threshold, per MLB Network. That base would be $10 million more than what the owners are asking for, and $16 million more than the current CBA.
Players still want more than what MLB is offering in pre-arbitration bonus pool, CBT threshold and minimum salary, Drellich reported. But they’re also willing to concede salary arbitration reform — a contentious issue for the league — if the “rest of numbers work out,” Drellich tweeted.
Even though there are still discrepancies in specific figures, the league and union accomplished more in 17 hours than they had all winter. They have until 5 p.m. to ride that momentum and save Opening Day.