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Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Report: MLB, MLBPA make 'a little progress' as Monday deadline approaches

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 2/25/22

As explained by The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), MLB commissioner Rob Manfred met with MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark as part of Friday's negotiations to end the lockout that threatens March 31 Opening Day games ahead of the Monday deadline set by the league.

Thursday's talks reportedly "brought no substantive progress" toward ending the work stoppage that began shortly after midnight ET on Dec. 2, but The Athletic's Evan Drellich offered fans a glimmer of hope ahead of the weekend:

A little progress! MLB, players made gains today in one area: amateur draft order/lottery. MLB made a proposal on it, players countered in same day. Not done yet, but there is optimism. Rob Manfred met with Tony Clark one on one. Manfred did not meet w/ players. They’ll meet tomm
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 25, 2022

This doesn't mean those with Opening Day tickets should plan to be in ballparks on the final day of March, as ESPN's Jesse Rogers reminded everyone that "there’s still a ton of work to do" with spring training games already canceled through at least March 5 and likely beyond that date even if a deal is struck before or on Monday.

The AP reiterated previous claims and said the MLBPA hasn't officially accepted the league-imposed Monday deadline and instead wants any regular-season games potentially scrapped due to the lockout to be initially rescheduled as part of doubleheaders. Owners aren't keen on that idea, which could lead to additional disagreements if Monday comes and goes without the parties putting pen to paper on a deal.

As USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweeted, proposals regarding a majority of the big-money issues weren't discussed on Friday:

Progress: Well, at least one economic issue appears close to being resolved: the draft lottery order. Rob Manfred had one-on-one meeting today with Tony Clark, but not the players. No other economic proposals were formally discussed, officials say
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 26, 2022

The big money issues are all still out there: CBT, minimum salary, prearbitration bonus pool. But, it is said, you have to start somewhere. All the issues have been discussed this week — even CBT. Just because there hasn’t been a new CBT proposal doesn’t mean it’s not discussed.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 26, 2022

While any good news should be considered a positive at this stage of the lengthy stalemate, nothing about Friday's update leads one to believe the sides are rounding third base and heading for home as 11:59 p.m. ET Monday night approaches.

The luxury tax threshold,
arbitration-eligibility, the bonus pool, revenue sharing and minimum salary levels are major core economic issues that still remain before MLB’s Monday deadline to avert delaying the start of the season. The two sides will meet again Saturday. https://t.co/qN9RL4pITM
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 26, 2022

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