The negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the Players’ Association went up in flames this week, as league commissioner Rob Manfred announced at least the first two series of the season would be canceled.
This all began when the league locked players out and players have been adamant that the league change some of its terms, particularly as it pertains to the competitive balance tax.
For now, negotiations between the two sides are on pause.
Longtime Bay Area baseball analyst Marty Lurie joined Kerry Crowley to discuss the situation and provided an assessment on when he thinks the baseball season will begin.
He said he hopes that a deal is reached some time in the next two weeks.
“I would say probably, realistically, we’re probably looking at baseball, I hate to say it, but probably the end of April,” Lurie said. “They want four weeks to get ready. They’ve done it in three weeks, but that was the second spring training, so they already had some innings in.
“But they want four weeks, so do the math. Four weeks, this is March 1. The thing has blown up now and they may not get together until next week or the week after and now we’re at March 15 and if you want four weeks, now we’re at the middle of April. I would hope April 15 to May 1 we’ll have games, I really do.”
Opening Day was originally scheduled for March 31 and is currently slated to start on April 8 for the Giants at home.
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