Three days after the union broke off talks with owners after a prolonged negotiation in Florida, it doesn’t sound like MLB’s lockout, which began on December 2nd, is any closer to ending. Chief negotiators Dan Halem and Bruce Meyer met for an hour and a half Thursday in New York, but didn’t appear to make much progress with neither submitting a formal proposal.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has already canceled the first week of the regular season and, with CBA talks stalled, it seems like only a matter of time until MLB scraps its entire opening month. Per Evan Drellich of The Athletic, “industry sources” are losing faith in an April start to the regular season, noting “tensions are high and positions entrenched” following a week of bitter negotiations with both sides leaving the bargaining table more exasperated than when they arrived.
The Athletic reported Thursday that owners from four teams—Bob Castellini (Reds), Chris Ilitch (Tigers), Ken Kendrick (Diamondbacks) and Arte Moreno (Angels)—opposed MLB’s proposed luxury tax threshold of $220 million, which the union rejected anyway. Among other frustrations, players are reportedly “angry” MLB wanted to factor per diem costs and food stipends into luxury tax calculations, seemingly using menial expenses like meal money as an excuse for lowering payroll.
In the meantime, players have set up shop in Mesa, Arizona, providing a fully-staffed training facility for use until labor peace is finally achieved. The MLBPA has also pledged $1 million to be paid out to stadium employees and other game-day staff unable to work during the lockout.
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