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'No substantive progress' made in latest lockout talks

GREG LOVETT/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK

Report: 'No substantive progress' in lockout talks between MLB, MLBPA

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 2/24/22

Midnight is approaching, and the MLB Opening Day schedule set for March 31 is even closer to turning into a pumpkin.

It was learned Wednesday that regular-season games will be canceled and not rescheduled if MLB owners and MLB Players Association representatives cannot come to an agreement that ends the ongoing lockout by the end of Monday. As Jesse Rogers of ESPN tweeted, the situation is not good for fans following Thursday's discussions between the owners and players.

The Athletic's Evan Drellich didn't dance around the issue when he noted that Thursday's sessions "brought no substantive progress" as it pertains to ending the work stoppage that's already caused the cancellation of spring training games through at least March 5:

MLBPA made proposals on service time manipulation and amateur draft. On STM: new proposal would grant service time to fewer players than before, narrows scope of it. On draft: still 7-pick lottery, but changing other elements that would penalize teams for consecutive losing years
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 24, 2022

MLB and MLBPA plan to meet again tomorrow, a 5th straight day. MLB did not react well to the players’ proposals today. Once again, like the three preceding days, today brought no substantive progress.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 24, 2022

If owners were trying to scare union members with Wednesday's update, the tactic didn't work. ESPN's Jeff Passan tweeted progress in talks has been "minimal" and "incremental" this week, and Rogers added Thursday's meetings actually ended earlier than planned:

The union moved a little towards the league on draft order and service time manipulation but the day ended early because the sides had nothing more to discuss, according to sources.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 24, 2022

The union’s move on service time would have given a full year to about 20 extra players over the past 5 years, down from a previous offer which would have accounted for about 29 players. Like all week, it’s a decent tweak. Big issues remain.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 24, 2022

USA Today's Bob Nightengale pointed out more spring training games will be scrapped, potentially as soon as Friday morning or afternoon:

MLB cancelled the first week of spring training games last Friday.
Now, with the slow pace of negotiations, more spring training games will soon have to be cancelled.
March 5 is no longer a realistic date to begin playing games in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues in Fla./Ariz.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 24, 2022

As The Associated Press (h/t ESPN) and others explained, labor talks will continue Friday and could now involve an MLBPA request to make up any potentially-canceled regular-season games as future doubleheaders. MLB will reportedly "not agree" to such a shift in schedules, which could lead to the players refusing to accept an expanded postseason for 2022 and advertisements on uniforms and helmets worn during contests.

The lockout began shortly after midnight ET on Dec. 2, and its end seems as far away as it was weeks before Christmas.

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