Start of 2022 MLB Season Up in Air as Both Sides Still Meet Late into the Night
After more than 12 hours of negotiations, nothing substantial has come out of the negotiation sessions between the MLB Players Union and the League’s owners as both sides are said…
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred walks to a press conference during an MLB owner’s meeting at the Waldorf Astoria on February 10, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Manfred addressed the ongoing lockout of players, which owners put in place after the league’s collective bargaining agreement ended on December 1, 2021. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
After more than 12 hours of negotiations, nothing substantial has come out of the negotiation sessions between the MLB Players Union and the League's owners as both sides are said to be still negotiating into the late hours of Monday night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.
According to Evan Drellich of the Athletic and Bob Nightengale of USA Today, there has been discussion of extending the self-imposed deadline, as both sides remain far apart on key aspects of a new collective bargaining agreement.
Earlier on Monday night it was reported that MLB's Owners are willing to miss up to a month of games if an outcome is not reached. Such a scenario would be a poison pill that nobody would want to see. Even Commissioner Rob Manfred said the cancellation of games would be "disastrous."
Cryptically, Manfred was recorded heading to his car around 6 p.m. Monday night, and when asked if there was any updates, he said "we're working on it."
Should a deal not get struck tonight or Tuesday, there is a very good chance that Opening Day, slated for March 31 will be canceled. Whether more games are removed from the regular season schedule is the next question. The longer both sides stay committed to their respective corners, the likelihood the season starts on time, or in early April at all becomes more and more unrealistic.
