As the ongoing MLB lockdown continues to unfold at breakneck speed, the sport’s owners will be convening their quarterly meetings Tuesday through Thursday. Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets Expectations among players that a counter-proposal will be among the topics discussed and that a new offer from the tournament will be made in the coming days (though, probably not until when the owner’s meeting is over).
It’s been almost a week since the MLBPA released its latest proposal for the league — an offer that was met with the promise of an objection but instead, the MLB asked a federal mediator to intervene. Union completely rejected concept of mediation, instead repeating his desire to return to the negotiating table with the MLB.
That’s the widely expected route, as a request for mediation is always appreciated when there’s more of a public relations move than a serious request. To that end, the veteran left-hander Andrew Millerone of eight players on the MLBPA executive subcommittee, spoke to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers about the decision to refuse mediation.
“…[W]I don’t think it will speed up the process,” Miller told Rogers when asked about the union’s rationale. “History tells us in our sport it is not easy to reach an agreement and our staff and the outside board will guide us in things like this. That’s what they are for. Our position is completely opposite to negotiation and ready to negotiate. We were there and our suggestions and desire to meet at the table showed it. The federation is refusing to counterattack, the federation is the stalled side and is not ready or willing to respond. ”
Miller’s view of history could be a nod to federal mediator Bill Usery, who was brought in for just such a purpose in the 1994 cease-fire. Usery provided little utility in the cases. negotiations because he was not fast enough to deal with the current complex and complex issues, and his presence ultimately did not lead to an agreement being made.
Further, as the leftist of the Giants Alex Wood shown (Twitter link), it will likely take a few weeks to bring in a federal mediator and the basis for a new deal will largely stem from the existing CBA, from which the players are trying to forge some space. way. Wood’s use of quotation marks when describing an “‘impartial’ mediator and his characterization of the current CBA as a “broken system” underscores both the MLBPA’s distrust of any measures taken by the union and the union’s current dissatisfaction with the quo status.
That said, it should still be noted that US labor secretary Marty Walsh has expressed a willingness to participate in the lockdown, as first reported by Politico’s Jonathan Lemire (Twitter link). Walsh subsequently dismissed any doubt on the matter, issuing the following statement to Lemire:
“I have spoken with both the MLBPA and the MLB about the ongoing contract negotiations and encouraged both parties to remain engaged. As with any contract negotiation in any industry, I am here to assist in facilitating productive conversations that produce the best outcomes for workers and employers. ”
While the league may continue to raise hopes for an external reconciliation, it is clear that the players have no desire to cross that path. A large number of Major Leaguers have taken to social media in recent days to express their disappointment and desire to negotiate a new deal. Twin catcher Mitch GarverFor example, tweeted that key members of the union “wants to meet every day until the deal is done”, protesting that “the other side does not”.
Former Left-wing Tiger Matthew Boyda union representative who is currently a freelance worker, struck a chord similar to Miller’s in told Evan Petzold about the Detroit Free Press that the union felt resorting to mediation would only prolong the problem. The most obvious path to resolving the matter, Boyd added, is to continue meaningful negotiations with the federation.
Putting together to come up with a unified set of goals has been a clear MLBPA tactic over the past week. Miller and other executive committee members Max Scherzer spoke up, as did the likes of Wood, Garver, Whit Merrifield, Jameson Taillon and many others. The talking points have remained largely the same, like Miller and Scherzer’s house. Many players have reiterated that the MLBPA wants to remove the incentives for rising teams (i.e. access to better draft picks, larger drafts, and international bonus pools), offering a higher level of pay. better pay for young/inexperienced players, end time manipulation and, to use Scherzer’s exact terms, create “a system where thresholds and penalties don’t work as limit” (regarding the current luxury/competitive equilibrium tax).
It should be noted that not all players speak out so strongly. Ace Adam Wainwright clearly shared the frustrations of his teammates, but he at least said eloquently that if the federation proposed “the same deal we have right now, we would probably go play baseball” (link via Jeff Jones of Belleville News-Democrat). Those comments were taken off the cuffs at a charity fundraiser, but they’re still a notable difference from other recent public statements from the union.
That said, Wainwright agreed with his colleagues that a “good and fair deal” seems unlikely today. “Honestly, that’s not even close to happening,” he added. “It’s pretty one-sided. And [MLB] not really ready to talk right now. That makes it difficult.” Wainwright added to Jones that MLB’s most recent offer was “a long way from starting negotiations”.
Whether or not a third party is eventually brought on board, the ball remains in MLB’s field as the federation continues to await objections to the latest offer last Tuesday. It remains to be seen exactly when the league will make its next move.
