MLB expected to make core economics proposal to MLBPA within two weeks

Last week, both Jeff Passan of ESPN and Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported that Major League Baseball had been preparing core economics proposals to present to the MLB Players Association. Both Passan and Drellich suggested that could ignite collective bargaining negotiations by the end of the month. Bob Nightengale of USA Today adds a bit more specificity to that timeline, writing Monday morning that the league is planning to make its proposal “within the next two weeks.”

Whenever the league does put its offer on the table, that’ll serve as the first notable development in CBA talks since MLB instituted a lockout in the early morning minutes of Dec. 2. The parties have since met a couple times regarding issues outside of core economics, but there’s reportedly been no discussion on the most contentious issues since the start of the lockout.

The league and union did put forth core economics proposals prior to the expiration of the previous CBA, but neither side responded favorably to the other’s offers. That culminated in a seven-minute bargaining session on Dec. 1. Both parties have expressed openness to returning to the table, but they’ve been in a holding pattern as the union has waited for the league to put forth a new offer.

Renewing core economics discussions by around Jan. 21 (two Fridays from now) wouldn’t give the parties much time to bridge the gap without threatening exhibition play. The first spring training games are scheduled for Feb. 26, and there’ll certainly need to be a few weeks between the signing of a new CBA and the start of play for players to report, clear whatever COVID-19 protocols may be in place and ramp up physical activity.