Major League Baseball is currently in the midst of its ninth lockout. Pressure the looming season is forcing the two sides in the dispute to begin negotiation.
The lockout began on Dec. 2, and little talking has since occurred between MLB and its player’s union. Baseball commissioner, Robert D. Manfred Jr., sent out a letter when the lockout started that explained the 26 years of labor peace were disrupted because they could not agree with the players association before the collective bargaining agreement from 2016 expired. There has not been a new agreement.
The owners started the lockout, which effectively shut down almost every team function.
“During the lockdown, no major league free agents can sign, and no trades can be made,” according to an article by Sporting News. “Players have no access to any sort of team facilities, which is especially troublesome for those rehabbing their way back from serious injuries. Basically, nobody employed by a team in a non-playing capacity can have any sort of communication with players.”
The players association is standing firm on issues such as the players’ salaries to treatment in the league.
According to SBNation, “There has been a shrinking percentage of revenue going to players, with MLB using creative accounting to show why players are keeping an even share.”
SBNation added that players also want safeguards from being held back in the minors. This is a common occurrence where their contract status is exploited, and they are forced into taking less money. In addition, they want better-protected salaries for younger players, as those have become stagnant in recent years.
Another issue is free agency status.
“Players want a free agency to be available to anyone who has reached 29.5 years of age if they’ve accrued five years of service time or all players who have accrued six years of service time — whichever comes first. This is something the owners have said is a non-starter, as they want to keep the six years to free agency and three years of arbitration process they’ve had in place,” said SBNation.
Players are also calling for “tanking” to be stopped, so players get paid fair wages and become incentivized to win.
SBNation also said the owners want an extended playoff season, which majorly increases their revenue.
Both sides are still holding firm to their demands. The MLB agreed to be open to a pre-arbitration bonus pool, but they are still very divided on how much should be distributed.
With spring training scheduled to start at the end of February and exhibition games already scheduled, there is plenty of concern that negotiations will not be complete, and there will be a delay in the season. Opening day is scheduled for March 31.