MLB Needs Deal Soon To Avoid Shortened Season

February 24, 2022 3:50 am

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – Major League Baseball says the regular season will be shortened if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t in place by Monday.  Locked-out baseball players and team owners met for a third straight day Wednesday in an attempt to reach a deal that would salvage opening day on March 31. The announcement by management comes amid little negotiating progress with the lockout in its 84th day.  Players have not accepted Monday as a deadline and have suggested any missed games could be made up as part of doubleheaders, a method MLB said it will not agree to.  The union told MLB that if games are missed and salaries are lost, clubs should not expect players to agree to management’s proposals to expand the postseason and to allow advertisements on uniforms and helmets.  MLB’s only new offer to players Wednesday was to increase the minimum salary by an additional $10,000 a year. MLB increased its proposed minimum for this year to $640,000, with the figure rising by $10,000 in each additional season of a five-year agreement. Players have asked for $775,000 in 2022, with $30,000 jumps each season.