Baseball Players Association Rejects MLB’s Final Offer—Commissioner Cancels Opening Day

Topline

Following a months-long lockout filled with negotiations, Major League Baseball team owners and the Players’ Association were unable to come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the league’s 5 p.m. deadline, which the league said was the last window to complete a deal before it would be forced to cancel March 31’s Opening Day for the 2022 season.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: The New York Yankees stand for the National Anthem against the Houston Astros during Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on April 5, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images

Key Facts

Leaders of the MLBPA voted unanimously to reject the MLB’s final proposal on a deal Tuesday, about a half hour before the 5 p.m. deadline, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed he will cancel regular-season games following the players’ rejection, according to ESPN. 

The rejection means regular-season games will be canceled due to a work stoppage for the first time since 1995. 

Despite the league setting forth its “best-and-final” offer to the players Tuesday, the two sides were unable to come to an agreement on a new competitive balance tax threshold—taxes a team must pay if they exceed certain salary figures on their player payroll—and arbitration terms for younger players, among other disputes. 

The two sides will meet again with the hopes of reaching an agreement and avoiding further cancellations, according to Yahoo! Sports, though both sides are leaving Florida, where the meetings have been taking place, with no new meetings scheduled, The Athletic reports.

Key Background

The lockout began December 2, 2021, in the offseason, following the expiration of the league’s previous collective bargaining agreement. Manfred told baseball fans in a letter that day the players’ demands “would threaten the ability of most teams to be competitive.” Players have yet to report to their teams or participate in Spring Training, which was supposed to begin last week.

Crucial Quote

“What Rob Manfred characterized as a ‘defensive lockout’ is, in fact, the culmination of a decades-long attempt by owners to break our Player fraternity,” the Players’ Association tweeted Tuesday following Manfred’s cancellations. “As in the past, this effort will fail. We are united and committed to negotiating a fair deal that will improve the sport for players, fans and everyone who loves our game.”