CBA Musings (12/17): What’s Happening and What’s Next?

[Ted Schwerzler]

It’s been a slow couple of weeks with Major League Baseball effectively shut down. A few minor league transactions have trickled in, and a handful of stories regarding guys signing overseas have accumulated, but the lockout has drawn things to a halt. Recent reports don’t suggest a reprieve soon.

Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Evan Drellich reported that while a handful of topics are to be discussed regarding a new CBA, core economic won’t be on the agenda until January. Since the lockout occurred on December 2nd, Major League Baseball appears comfortable taking their time; there have been no formal proposals. As discussed in this space previously, the league itself loses nothing until games and revenue go away.
 
A small group reportedly met for an in-person meeting on Thursday. Still, the context of that meeting is unknown, and wasn’t expected to include anything financially driven. Right now, there’s uncertainty as to which side will make the next move. Rob Manfred suggested, before the lockout, that the league had made a proposal, and the union had it on their plate to hammer out an agreement. That feeling wasn’t reciprocated from the union side, and now we have a stalemate.
 
Looking at the offseason calendar, that’s where we can find the best indication of how things are progressing. Neither side has much desire to meet or move on any critical issues. It’s not just economics that needs to be hammered out, but they undoubtedly are among the chief concerns. Baseball’s next event was a trade of arbitration figures on January 14. It’s in February that teams report to Spring Training. Both sides seem content waiting through the turn of the year until making any more advancements.
 
That’s a fine stance, and one the union likely needs to create leverage as their greatest asset is the on-field product, but that also leaves a significant amount of work to be done in just a month. How this all gets hammered out, especially with two sides doing virtually nothing to take steps forward presently, will be something to behold.

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[ashbury]

42 minutes ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

As discussed in this space previously, the league itself loses nothing until games and revenue go away.

Chances are this is a faulty assumption.  Revenue isn't simply a switch you flip to 'On'.

[4twinsJA]

Very frustrating and disheartening as fan that negotiations will just sit another month with no serious discussions. Too bad back has to be against the wall to get anything done. 

[IndianaTwin]

I have no need for Manfred. Manfred causes pain. 

[miller761]

Quote

Too bad back has to be against the wall to get anything done.

Why should these people be any different than our elected officials in Washington.

 

[Blyleven2011]

Remember manfreds letter to the fans ...

We owe it to the fans to get a quick resolution to the new agreement ...

What a crock .....

Does he think that baseball fans are stupid ... he writes a letter to the fans and then eats his words ...

We need a more neutral commissioner that doesn't work directly for the owners ...

Manfred has no passion for todays game or even the history of the game ... 

That's proven with all his stupid new baseball rules to speed up the game , rules that take away strategy during the game ...

IMO it doesn't speed the game up enough to change rules , now adding DH to national league will add time to those games ...

What a crock ...

 

Let's play two

 

 

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Blyleven2011 said:

We need a more neutral commissioner that doesn't work directly for the owners ...

Who do you propose hires this person?

[mikelink45]

I'm beginning to think that the NFL and the NBA are involved in these negotiations or whether lack of negotiations. Baseball is doing everything I can to not just fall from being America's game, but being a footnote in history 

[Blyleven2011]

10 hours ago, ashbury said:

Who do you propose hires this person?

Owners appoint a commissioner,,, in the beginning it used to be a president for both leagues , then after the black Sox scandal I believe they were ousted and the commissioner office was formed for the integrity of the game  ..

Todays commissioner works exclusively for the owners .. Selig was more subtle  but Manfred has not ,,, Vincent was the last commissioner that was neutral for the office of commissioner  ,  , 

He should stay neutral between the owners and players and hash out an agreement for everyone's benefit  ....

If the commissioner was more neutral we might not have had such a problem with steroids , but the steroid era was exciting and the commissioner knew what was going on but didn't put a stop to it soon enough because it generated fans interest  and lots of revenue for the owners  , so the steriods era puts a tarnish on records that were broken ....

IMO ....

 

Hank Aaron is still the leader in homeruns  ,,,, no I won't get over it