PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio/Audacy) — It looks like the Philadelphia Phillies' 2022 season opener in Houston on March 31 will not happen, as Major League Baseball will not start on time this year.
Despite reports of growing optimism late Monday night, the players and owners failed to reach an agreement by 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday after the MLBPA unanimously voted down the league’s “best and final” offer.
KYW's Dave Uram: MLB cancels games for the first time in 27 years
With no deal in place, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Opening Day would be canceled, as well as the other games in the first two series of each team's schedule.
This means the Philadelphia Phillies' two series to start 2022, road series in Houston and Washington, will not be played.
However, the Phillies' home-opening series against the Oakland A's, would still be played if both sides soon come to an agreement. The first home game is scheduled for April 8.
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Among items in the final proposal from the owners included:
-Pre-arbitration pool of $30 million (a $5 million increase)
-No change on the competitive balance tax (CBT) thresholds, which was $220 million the next three years, $224 million in 2025, $230 million in 2026
-Minimum salary at $700,000 and increasing to $740,000 by end of the deal (MLBPA wanted $725,000 minimum).
The MLBPA said Tuesday after the announcement of game cancellations that Manfred's move was the culmination of a "decades-long attempt by owners to break our player fraternity."
It was initially unclear Tuesday afternoon when the two sides plan to meet again, but Manfred said he hoped to return to the bargaining table soon.
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