MLB Lockout: Openers in Jeopardy After Fruitless Negotiating Session

Openers in jeopardy after fruitless negotiating session originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

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The chance of spring training games starting on time as scheduled looks remote after MLB and players union's latest bargaining session yielded no progress in labor negotiations.

Never mind an on-time start to the regular season is in jeopardy.

MLB and the union met in New York Thursday afternoon, a bargaining session that lasted only 15 minutes.

The union made a counterproposal to the league's most recent offer, which MLB called a "non-starter," according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

The union increased its proposal for a bonus pool for productive pre-arbitration players to $115 million, up from $100 million in past negotiating sessions, in exchange for limiting the number of players who would be arbitration-eligible after two years of service time.

The #MLBPA requested an increase from $100 million to $115 million in its pre-arbitration bonus pool in its latest proposal in exchange for the arbitration eligibility class to include 80% of its players with 2 years of service instead of 100%. MLB called it a non-starter.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 17, 2022

Players union lowered the percentage of 2-year players the request to get arbitration from 100 percent to 80 percent (MLB is at 22 percent, status quo) and actually raised the bonus pool request from $100M to $115M (MLB is at $15M) so they actually lost ground on that.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 17, 2022

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Spring training, which was scheduled to open this week with pitchers and catchers reporting to camps, is already delayed, and the start of Cactus League and Grapefruit League play looks increasingly likely to be postponed. The first exhibition games are scheduled for Feb. 26.

The regular season starting on time also is looking increasingly remote, barring an agreement in the next week. Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week MLB anticipates needing four weeks of spring training before the regular season, and less than a week to open camps after a labor deal is reached.