MLB Lockout: More Progress Made, but More Work to be Done
According to multiple reports both the Major League Baseball Players Union and Major League Baseball have agreed to some “basic framework” in negotiations over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, but are still far apart from agreeing to any sort of deal.
On Tuesday, the first time that both sides have met on consecutive days since the lockout started on December 2, Major League Baseball made a counter-proposal, and the two sides agreed to the union’s proposal of a bonus pool for pre-arbitration eligible players. The players union is seeking $105 million while MLB countered with only $10 million.
Meanwhile, MLB is proposing to raise the minimum salary to $615,000 for players with a year or less of Major League service time. Last year the minimum salary was only $570,500. The players union wants more, roughly $775,000 according to reports.
And MLB proposed to drop its initial proposal for changes to arbitration.
Labor talks are over. Here's what happened.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 25, 2022
- MLB agreed to accept parameters of a pre-arbitration bonus pool for top 30 WAR. MLBPA seeking $105M. League offered $10M.
- MLB offered minimum raise to $615K. MLBPA wants $775K.
- MLB withdrew offer to change arbitration structure
MLB and union are making real progress the last 2 days. The CBT (luxury tax), both the threshold and penalties, may be the biggest hurdle among a few left to clear. https://t.co/zcuibISX1v
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 25, 2022
So the gap is now $775K to $615K. Minimum salary affects about half the players each year but doesn’t represent the potential total $ difference of free agency and luxury tax (CBT) issues https://t.co/amYXzPxgtX
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 25, 2022
The players union and owners are still very far apart when it comes to money, but the facts are both sides are amicable to work something out, which is a positive step in the right direction.
