MLB And MLBPA Meet On Thursday For The First Time

By Tiffany Williams –

43 days, that’s how long it’s been since MLB owners locked out players. Well for the first time, on Thursday MLB and MLPA finally met and weather or not it was a fruitful meeting, well that will only be seen in due time. 

In Thursday’s meeting MLB and the MLBPA discussed core economic matters and it was the first substantial bargaining session since the work stoppage began. 

Both sides did discuss non-economic matters last month, though the topics discussed Thursday will ultimately determine when the lockout ends.

Before the meeting on Thursday came to an end, MLB made an economics proposal however it was not received well by MLBPA, 

The question now is how quickly the MLBPA will submit a counterproposal and when will the MLB and MLBPA hold another bargaining session. 

MLB has proposed:

1. Gradually raising the luxury-tax threshold to $220 million by 2026
2. Pay-for-play arbitration system and free agency for all at age 29.5
3. Eliminating draft pick compensation for free agents
4. Expanded 14-team postseason
5. Draft lottery for top three picks

MLBPA has proposed:

1. Raising the luxury-tax threshold to $245 million
2. Free agency at five years of service time and age 29.5, or six years of service time, whichever comes first
3. Service-time bonuses for All-Star Game selections, awards, etc.
4. Expanded 12-team postseason
5. Draft lottery with a market size component

In a previously released statement, MLBPA talking about the lockout said, “It is not required by law or for any other reason. It was the owners’ choice, plain and simple, specifically calculated to pressure Players into relinquishing rights and benefits, and abandoning good faith bargaining proposals that will benefit not just Players, but the game and industry as a whole.”

For baseball fans, the big question is when will it all end and another question that I get is will there be a season this year? My answer is that this is a fluid situation with a lot of unknowables.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly said what I have said and that is that he remains “optimistic” the season will not be compromised and that games will not be canceled.