MLB cancels more spring training games after Manfred, Clark meet
Major League Baseball canceled another three days of spring training games, a league spokesperson announced Friday.
The league officially called off all Grapefruit and Cactus League contests from March 5-7. If a new collective bargaining agreement is reached in the coming days, March 8 is the earliest games could begin.
It's the second time this month that MLB has nixed spring contests due to the lockout. MLB has already said it'll cancel regular-season games if a new CBA isn't in place by Monday.
Friday marked the fifth straight day of negotiations between owners and players in Florida. The day included a surprise appearance from commissioner Rob Manfred, who met individually with MLBPA executive director Tony Clark. It's believed to be the first time Manfred and Clark held an in-person, one-on-one meeting since 2020, according to Evan Drellich of The Athletic.
An MLB spokesperson said Manfred initiated the meeting with Clark, and they spoke about moving the bargaining process forward, per James Wagner of the New York Times.
A deal wasn't reached Friday, but the lengthy sessions produced progress regarding the amateur draft order and a possible draft lottery, Drellich reports.
The big money issues are all still out there: CBT, minimum salary, prearbitration bonus pool. But, it is said, you have to start somewhere. All the issues have been discussed this week — even CBT. Just because there hasn’t been a new CBT proposal doesn’t mean it’s not discussed.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 26, 2022
The sides will meet again Saturday.
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