MLB Lockout Tracker: MLB spokesperson says ‘Missed games are missed games.’

Phillies Nation will be tracking the latest breaking news surrounding the MLB lockout all week long.

Wednesday Feb. 23: MLB put forth a counterproposal on the third-straight day of negotiations in Florida. The league reportedly raised its minimum salary proposal by $10,000, but the most notable bit of news from today came from an MLB spokesperson who confirmed that missed games will not be made up at a later time. If Opening Day is canceled, the regular season will not be 162-games long.

“Missed games are missed games. Feb. 28 is the deadline,” an MLB spokesperson told Michael Silverman of the Boston Globe. 

Source: MLB’s only proposal so far today added $10,000 to minimum salary per year.

2022: $640k
2023: $650k
2024: $660k
2025: $670k
2026: $680k

MLB also withdrew its proposal for an alternate minimum system that was tiered based on service time.

They’re not done talking yet.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 23, 2022

The sides are expected to resume negotiations on Thursday. MLB’s deadline to reach a new agreement to start the regular season on March 31 is Feb. 28.

Update 5:50 p.m. ET: Per Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, MLB suggested requesting assistance from a federal mediator. The union rejected the request. Both sides have to agree in order for a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to intervene in the sport’s lockout. MLB formally requested assistance from a federal mediator three weeks ago.

Tuesday Feb. 22: MLB and the MLBPA met for a second consecutive day. The MLBPA presented a counteroffer to the league in which the players reportedly tweaked its proposals on the draft lottery, “Super Two” arbitration eligibility and the minimum salary.

Included in MLBPA’s offer today:

• Instead of 80 percent of players w/2-3 yrs of service being eligible for arbitration, now 75 percent.

• Dropped from 8 picks in the amateur draft lottery 7.

• Some increases in minimum salary.

There was no new proposal on CBT.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 22, 2022

On minimum salary that MLBPA proposed today: First year of the CBA remains $775,000. Each subsequent year, it goes up by $30,000 now, instead of $25,000 previously. So it’s now:

2022: 775k
2023: 805k
2024: 835k
2025: 865k
2026: 895k

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 22, 2022

The league and the players union reportedly held a smaller side session during Tuesday’s negotiation session. Deputy commissioner and the league’s top negotiator Dan Halem along with Rockies owner Dick Monfort met with MLBPA lead negotiator Bruce Meyer and Mets pitcher Max Scherzer, a member of the union’s executive subcommittee.

The two sides are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday.

Monday Feb. 21: With seven days to go before MLB’s Feb. 28 deadline to reach a new agreement to start the regular season on time, the league and the players met at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. The bargaining session reportedly lasted several hours with both sides spending most of that time caucusing amongst each other, which is typical in labor negotiation sessions.

Strategy session for the players before going in. Tony Clark, Max Scherzer and others. pic.twitter.com/Jg3RkOVhbu

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 21, 2022

According to Evan Drellich of The Athletic, MLB proposed to increase its pre-arbitration bonus pool offer from $15 to $20 million and to expand the league’s proposed draft lottery from three teams to four. The MLBPA is seeking a $115 million bonus pool split amongst 150 players along with an eight-team weighted draft lottery.

The two sides did not discuss the competitive balance tax, per Drellich. Meetings are expected to resume Tuesday.

MLB & MLBPA plan to meet again tomorrow for more bargaining talks per source familiar

Today described as wide-ranging conversation that covered a number of issues

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) February 21, 2022

Everything you need to know about the MLB lockout

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