MLB won't make up canceled games: 'A deadline is a deadline'
Major League Baseball confirmed Wednesday that it won't budge from its self-imposed deadline to save a 162-game season if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't in place by next Monday.
The league added that it won't reschedule any canceled regular-season games.
"A deadline is a deadline. Missed games are missed games. Salary will not be paid for those games," a league spokesperson said, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers.
Opening Day is slated for March 31.
Another note from today: In addition to MLB intending to cancel games if no deal is in place by Monday, the league doesn't intend to rewrite the schedule. The schedule would simply pick up whenever games begin.
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) February 24, 2022
San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Wood quickly voiced his frustration with the owners' deadline:
It’s fascinating MLB setting a hard deadline to play a full season for Monday. They locked us out. Had barely any contact for two months post lockout. Have yet to make a single good faith offer to even initiate real conversations to get a deal done. Just make a real offer 🤷🏻.
— Alex Wood (@Awood45) February 24, 2022
MLB initially floated the Feb. 28 deadline last week, shortly after delaying the start of spring training. The threat came amid stalled negotiations regarding core economic issues.
The league and players convened for negotiations in Florida this week. New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, reliever Andrew Miller, and New York Mets stars Max Scherzer and Francisco Lindor were among the players in attendance Wednesday.
MLB offered to raise miniumum salaries - a key issue in negotiations - during Wednesday's session, sources told Evan Drellich of The Athletic. Under the league's reported proposal, the minimum salary would start at $640,000 in 2022 and then increase by $10,000 annually for the CBA's duration.
Still, the sides remain far apart on most major issues, including the minimum salary. Additionally, neither side has tabled any proposals about the competitive-balance tax, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Five days before the deadline MLB says will postpone regular-season games, here's the gap between the sides in their latest proposals:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 23, 2022
CBT: $31M
Pre-arb bonus pool: $95M
Minimum salary: $135K/player
Draft lottery: 3 picks
That's a lot to cover in less than a week. Like, a lot.
MLB and the players' association will meet again Thursday, and the union is expected to make another counteroffer, according to Drellich.
MLB locked out its players shortly after midnight on Dec. 2, moments after the previous CBA expired.