On Monday night, MLB and the MLBPA seemed to be moving towards a deal that would allow the season to start on time. While no deal was reached, the Feb. 28 deadline was extended a day.
Any hopes that an extra day would bring a new deal were quickly dashed. MLB made a “best and final” offer Tuesday, which was rejected.
The players have now officially voted down the MLB” best and final” offer. No deal.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 1, 2022
BREAKING: MLBPA player leaders agreed unanimously not to accept MLB's final proposal, and there will be no deal on a new collective-bargaining agreement before MLB's 5 p.m. ET deadline, sources tell ESPN.
MLB has threatened to cancel its March 31 Opening Day without a new deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 1, 2022
In fact, the two sides are not close.
In other words… not even close to what the union was looking for. Word is this offered was just delivered. That we have it immediately shows you the extent of the displeasure. https://t.co/9DHzjaxN9x
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 1, 2022
$220 million for the first CBT threshold is not a serious proposal from MLB's owners, in my opinion. That's an obvious no from players.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) March 1, 2022
MLB player: "Never even close in the slightest"
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) March 1, 2022
What does that mean? The lockout will continue and the regular season will not start on time. Not unless MLB moves its self-imposed deadline back.
Update: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that they’ve canceled the first two series of the regular season.
MLB has canceled the first two series of the season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 1, 2022
MLB players quickly made their feelings known about this. One thing they made abundantly clear: from their perspective, any optimism that was expressed by MLB on Monday night was not much more than a public relations ploy.
FWIW MLB has pumped to the media last night & today that there’s momentum toward a deal. Now saying the players tone has changed. So if a deal isn’t done today it’s our fault. This isn’t a coincidence. We’ve had the same tone all along. We just want a fair deal/to play ball.
— Alex Wood (@Awood45) March 1, 2022
The last 24hrs I’d say there was cautious optimism on the players side because the owners were actually at the table negotiating with us toward a deal. What we’re asking is more than fair. If there’s no deal the optimism from MLB was a PR illusion to make it look like they tried.
— Alex Wood (@Awood45) March 1, 2022
Wish MLB would use some of their PR tactics to promote the stars in our game! pic.twitter.com/Iktd7PqReh
— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) March 1, 2022
THIS! 🗣🗣🗣 https://t.co/fxjQEJBQCB
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) March 1, 2022
this is just another episode of succession
— Jack Flaherty (@Jack9Flaherty) March 1, 2022
Others in the baseball world expressed their sadness and frustration.
Cheating
Tanking
"Piece of metal"
And now season-openers cancelled by lockout.— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) March 1, 2022
— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) March 1, 2022
totally depressed
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) March 1, 2022
MLB also came under fire for the way it has handled everything during the negotiation period.
One player leader called the league’s proposal, “a slap in the face,” saying owners want players to lose pay. https://t.co/8TJy8drHwC
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 1, 2022
*MLB imposes lockout
*MLB waits 40+ days to make 1st offer
*MLB sets up arbitrary "deadline" to save Opening Day
*MLB gives impression a deal is close, raising hopes
*MLB says MLBPA tone has changed, tries to put all onus on players (via public perception) to save Opening Day.— Ryan Lewis (@ByRyanLewis) March 1, 2022
One more time, with emphasis: Rob Manfred keeps making Bud Selig look good.
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) March 1, 2022
If this this the spin MLB is working with, it ignores both rising inflation and that the increase isn't even close to keeping pace with the staggering rate at which league revenue has increased https://t.co/34yCFzTGHY
— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) March 1, 2022
The "best and final" offer can be loosely translated here as "take it or leave it."
And baseball may find there'll be a lot of "leaving it" going on if this ultimately results in the cancelation of regular season games.
It's a pretty sad state of affairs.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) March 1, 2022
Rob Manfred, Dec. 2: "Simply put, we believe that an offseason lockout is the best mechanism to protect the 2022 season. We hope that the lockout will jumpstart the negotiations and get us to an agreement that will allow the season to start on time."
Next proposal: 43 days later
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) March 1, 2022
Lance McCullers Jr., the Union rep of the Houston Astros, summed up his feelings on the matter rather bluntly.
It’s mind blowing these dudes legitimately caused these issue & continue to lie about it. Walk out on us in Dallas. Lock us out. Don’t speak to us for 6 weeks. Take weeks at a time to respond to our proposals. Clearly don’t care about fans, baseball or the game. It’s exhausting https://t.co/1LW4Ju9sUJ
— Lance McCullers Jr. (@lmccullers43) March 1, 2022
As far as what happens next, the two sides will at some point come to the negotiating table again. That time will not be on Tuesday, as the MLBPA representitives have left.
It's unclear when the two sides will start negotiating again. The MLBPA contingent is leaving Florida.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 1, 2022
When those two sides do begin to negotiate again, it’s clear that they will be far apart. Furthermore, some bad feelings will have to be worked through as well.