Major League Baseball confirmed the inevitable, announcing the official postponement of spring training to “no earlier than Saturday, March 5.”
The league locked out the players after the collective bargaining agreement expired in December, and negotiations remain far apart on several core economic issues. Pitchers and catchers were supposed to report to camp earlier this week, but the lockout prohibits players from accessing team facilities and communicating with team officials.
“All 30 clubs are unified in their strong desire to bring players back to the field and fans back to the stands,” MLB’s statement said.
The statement also stated that fans will be eligible for full refunds on already purchased tickets for games that won’t take place.
CBA negotiations are expected to ramp up next week, with bargaining sessions scheduled daily. So far, the union has made far more concessions than the owners during negotiations, backing off several of their key priorities while accepting new rules that will generate significant revenue for the league. But Commissioner Rob Manfred said recently “you’re always one breakthrough away from making an agreement.”
The league also tabbed Feb. 28 as a deadline for the two sides to come to an agreement in order to keep Opening Day intact. It’s unclear if the MLB Players Association agrees that specific date is the last possible day for an on-time regular season start, but any agreement would have to be made with enough time before March 31 for players to ramp up.
The current work stoppage is already the second-longest in baseball history. The longest — the 1994-95 strike — cost MLB the 1994 postseason and part of the 1995 season.