MLB cancels more games, pushing Opening Day to April 14

On Mar 10, 2022

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred answers questions during an MLB owner’s meeting at the Waldorf Astoria on February 10, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Manfred addressed the ongoing lockout of players, which owners put in place after the league’s collective bargaining agreement ended on December 1, 2021.

Julio Aguilar | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images

Major League Baseball on Wednesday said the league has canceled more games, pushing Opening Day to April 14 as negotiations between the owners and players union remain at a standstill.

“Because of the logistical realities of the calendar, another two series are being removed from the schedule,” MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred said in a statement.

“I am saddened by this situation’s continued impact on our game and all those who are a part of it, especially our loyal fans,” he added.

It’s been more than a week since the owners canceled the beginning of the regular season. League representatives and MLB Players Association officials met this week in New York as they seek a new collective bargaining agreement. Issues that need to be resolved include MLB’s competitive balance tax and minimum salaries.

It’s possible gameplay additions, such as a pitcher’s clock, could be added, and a 14-team postseason is being floated as a possible bargaining chip, too. There were 10 postseason teams last year.

Last week, Manfred canceled the first two series of the 2022 regular season, totaling more than 90 games. Manfred called MLB’s previous proposal its best offer and added “players will not get paid” for games missed.

Playoff expansion

On the playoff front, MLB envisions a 14-team format going forward, with a bye for the top team in the American League and National League. Under MLB’s format, division winners would host a best-of-three series with all the games at their home field. Higher-seeded teams would also select their opponent.

The players prefer 12 teams in the playoffs, but last weekend media reports suggested MLBPA officials would consider 14 teams and include a “ghost win” for division winners. That means higher-seed clubs only need to win two games to advance, while the away team needs a series sweep.

The league ditched that idea, though. The union’s postseason proposal “raises serious issues and is not a viable path forward,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said, according to the Associated Press.

If MLB does expand to a 14-team postseason, it reportedly would add an extra $100 million per season via media rights. New TV deals with ESPN, Turner and Fox start for the 2022 season and represent roughly $1.8 billion in annual revenue over this decade for MLB. ESPN would get extra postseason games as part of its package.

Luxury tax, gameplay limits, support fund

Owners and players remain at odds over MLB’s luxury tax line.

In the last CBA, the tax line was $210 million, up from $195 million in 2017. MLB offered to increase the luxury tax to $220 million in 2022. That would increase to $230 million by 2026….