NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
On the 95th day of the lockout, Major League Baseball players and blocked players talked for 95 minutes, mostly changing positions and showing no signs of a breakthrough that could get their failed season back on track.
CLICK HERE FOR GREATER SPORTS ON FOXNEWS.COM
In trying to settle the second longest-running baseball shutdown, the parties remain far apart in matters of luxury tax, minimum wages and proposed bonuses for players eligible before an arbitration tribunal. The union reduced the starting point for the bonus pool by $ 5 million to $ 80 million, but left its proposals for the luxury tax and the minimum wage unchanged.
After the main session, Deputy Commissioner Dan Hallem and union chief negotiator Bruce Mayer held a one-on-one session. The players invited the parties to meet again on Monday, and MLB told the union it would return with a decision on the meeting.
Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday canceled the first two series of the season for each team, for a total of 91 games. It was the first meeting since then, the first season delayed due to labor struggles since 1995.
Premier League Baseball Commissioner Dan Halem (left), Senior Vice President Patrick Hooligan (center) and Executive Vice President Morgan Sword (right) arrive at the Players Association’s New York office for working talks on Sunday, March 6, 2022. MLB spokesman Glenn Kaplin is on the far left.
(Photo by AP / Ron Bloom)
Among the few areas with new proposals, players said the rapid competition committee should include four union members, six leadership members and one judge. The group will consider changes to the rules no earlier than 2023, covering field clocks, limiting defensive shifts and using larger bases, and it will be able to recommend changes to the off-season with a 45-day warning.
The MLB last week proposed that the committee include six leadership officials, two union representatives and one judge. Currently, management can change the rules only with the consent of the union or unilaterally with a one-year notice.
The players said they would not allow the committee to consider one topic that MLB asked to include: robots to summon balls and punches.
After a four-day break in negotiations, the union gave a written response to the owners ’latest offer, which led to a breakdown on the ninth day of meetings in Jupiter, Florida.
The players have offered to increase the postseason from 10 teams to 12, but said they are ready to discuss the leadership’s desire for 14 if MLB will consider a “ghost victory” in the first round, which management is not interested in.
Players want to raise the luxury tax threshold from $ 210 last season to $ 238 million this year, $ 244 million in 2023, $ 250 million in 2024, $ 256 million in 2025 and $ 263 million in 2026. $ 224 million in 2025 and $ 230 million in 2026.
Tax rates will remain unchanged and direct compensation for draft bidding for free agents will be eliminated.
The union has reduced its pre-arbitration bonus pool plan to $ 80 million from $ 85 million with an annual increase of $ 5 million. Last time MLB offered $ 30 million compared to $ 25 million without an annual increase.
Under the general agreement, the players agreed to withdraw the proposed extension of salary arbitration for players with at least two years of experience, but less than three.
Players have maintained the proposed minimum wage of $ 725,000 this year, $ 745,000 in 2023, $ 765,000 in 2024 and will increase over the next two years based on the consumer price index for urban employees. The owners offered $ 700,000 with an annual increase of $ 10,000.
For players destined for minors and signing a second or later contract in the major leagues, the MLB is a minimum of $ 99,400 this year, $ 101,400 in 2023, $ 103,400 in 2024, $ 105,500 in 2025 and $ 106,600. in 2025 and 106,600 dollars, and in 2025 – 106,600 dollars, while in 2025 – 106,600 dollars2, 104, 1041, 1041, 107, and then the increase in the cost of living.
For those minors on a first major league contract, MLB costs $ 49,800 with an annual increase of $ 1,000, and this year – $ 59,500 players, followed by $ 61,100, $ 62,700 and a rise in the cost of living.
Players turned down MLB’s offer of an international draft and remained in the top six selections for the proposed amateur draft lottery, one more than the MLB.
Players also want to cut the proposed MLB international games that include Mexico City; Melbourne, Australia; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and South Korea.
