MLB cancels first two series after deadline passes with no deal

MLB cancels first two series after deadline passes with no deal

For the second time in three years, the Major League Baseball season will not start on time. And for the first time in 27 years, it's because of a labor dispute.

Unable to come to terms with the MLB Players Association on a new collective bargaining agreement before the league's self-imposed, once-postponed 5 p.m. deadline today, commissioner Rob Manfred officially announced opening day will not take place as scheduled March 31, then added he has canceled the first week of the regular season.

Deadline passes without new CBA (updated with Manfred quotes)

Deadline passes without new CBA (updated with Manfred quotes)
The second deadline imposed by Major League Baseball has passed without the creation of a new collective bargaining agreement. The MLB Players Association rejected the league's final offer and will move past 5 p.m. without a resolution. The vote was unanimous, according to reports, and came with approximately 40 minutes left on the clock. Union reps exited Roger Dean Stadium, and presumably are leaving Florida. The lockout reached its 90th day and the sport is now facing its first labor...

MLB pushes back deadline as sides move close to deal

MLB pushes back deadline as sides move close to deal

For much of Monday, the prospect of the first postponed opening day due to a labor fight looked inevitable. As representatives of Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association gathered yet again at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., for yet another day of negotiations, even the most optimistic observers were left believing a deal couldn't be reached in time to satisfy the league's Feb. 28 deadline to ensure an on-time start to the season.

After three long months, it's deadline day (maybe)

After three long months, it's deadline day (maybe)
Major League Baseball's lockout began three months ago. Three long months. And the reason those three months have felt so long was the fact we knew all along there was little chance of anything getting done until owners and players faced a real deadline with real pressure. In other words, the postponement of opening day. Well, three long months later, we've finally arrived at deadline day. Maybe. In MLB's eyes, today is the deadline. Commissioner Rob Manfred has made it painfully clear the...

Analyst bullish on DL Hall, but future role is a question

Analyst bullish on DL Hall, but future role is a question
There is no doubt that the combination of an injury that limited him to seven starts last season and trouble at times in his career with control and command have dropped Orioles lefty pitching prospect DL Hall a bit on some top 100 prospects lists. But he hasn't dropped on all of them, and on one list, he actually moved way up, even though the outlet feels he could end up pitching in the bullpen in the majors. This is an interesting guy for publications to rank. Before 2021, Baseball...

Amid lockout, prospects learning "Nationals Way" in camp

Amid lockout, prospects learning "Nationals Way" in camp
They've been assembled in West Palm Beach, Fla., for the last week, wearing Nationals uniforms, taking the fields outside The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, throwing bullpen sessions, taking batting practice, having fielding and defensive fundamentals pounded into their heads. They're just not big leaguers. Or, more specifically, part of big league camp. As the lockout drags on and owners and players careen towards a do-or-die moment Monday that could result in the postponement of opening...

What's going to happen once lockout ends?

What's going to happen once lockout ends?
It's a matter of when, not if, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement and the lockout ends. Spring will bloom and a new baseball season will be underway. The real question is what is going to happen once the lockout does, in fact, end? It wasn't our direct topic of conversation, but that question was discussed a bit on this week's episode of the "MASN All Access Podcast." I came up with three things that fall under that...

Because You Asked - The Rise of Gru

Because You Asked - The Rise of Gru
The start of the 2022 season reportedly will be delayed, with games lost, unless Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association settle on a new collective bargaining agreement by Monday. An MLB deadline that the union says doesn't really exist. I haven't been locked out of my mailbag. Can't do it. You can negotiate with me, but I'm getting the last word. You get the first by sending along questions. Thanks for your interest and humor. The sequels keep flowing since the original more...

Did the 1994-95 strike ultimately help bring MLB to D.C.?

Did the 1994-95 strike ultimately help bring MLB to D.C.?
Baseball is perhaps only a few days away from an event that hasn't been experienced in 27 years, one the commissioner himself recently said would be "disastrous" for the sport. Major League Baseball has said if it and the MLB Players Association can't agree to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement by Monday, some regular season games will be canceled. Whether that actually proves to be true remains to be seen, because the MLBPA insists the Feb. 28 deadline set forth by commissioner...

Springing ahead with more Orioles camp memories

Springing ahead with more Orioles camp memories
Until the lockout ends and major league spring training camps finally open, I'm left to reminisce about past stays in Florida. The many stories that unfolded, some of which never made it into print. The many mornings spent inside the clubhouse and on the back fields. The road trips, more grueling when the home site was down in Fort Lauderdale. The unexpected arrivals and departures. I'll share a few more today: Betemit's knee injury Media wanting to interview the starting pitcher or a...

Thursday morning Nats Q and A

Thursday morning Nats Q and A
Well, we've just about reached the point of no return. For nearly three months, we've speculated the lockout likely wouldn't end until the two sides faced a significant deadline: the potential loss of regular season games. And now, alas, we are on the verge of reaching that point. Major League Baseball reiterated Wednesday that if a deal is not in place by Monday, opening day will not proceed as scheduled March 31, adding that any games lost would not be made up and players would not be paid...

Looking at lingering questions as spring training remains on hold

Looking at lingering questions as spring training remains on hold
The eventual implementation of a new collective bargaining agreement and the abolishment of the lockout that began on Dec. 2 are going to leave plenty of questions spread across baseball's landscape. Answers may be staggered like the players who arrived in camp last spring. Or perhaps we'll be educated with one big news release. The date of the CBA and how much of spring training is lost are going to be factors. Will the sacrifices be confined to exhibition games? Four days remain before...

Two more Orioles spring training storylines

Two more Orioles spring training storylines
The meetings between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Associations are strung together this week like pearls. The goal is to end the lockout before we ring in a new month. Spring training is on hold, with at least seven exhibition games lost. I've already written 18 anticipated camp storylines, however I'm able to revisit them. If I'm able to revisit them. There's the rotation behind John Means and Jordan Lyles, whether Adley Rutschman will get a fair shot at breaking camp with the...

What's likely to be the final sticking point in negotiations?

What's likely to be the final sticking point in negotiations?
If you're the optimistic sort, you probably looked at Monday's face-to-face meetings between Major League Baseball owners and player representatives, which took up most of the afternoon in Jupiter, Fla., as encouraging news. At last they two sides were talking in person, with actual participants involved, extending and reacting to competing offers, caucusing in separate corners for a while, then returning to present counteroffers before breaking for the day. If you're the pessimistic type,...

The little we've learned in recent days

The little we've learned in recent days
Exactly one week has passed since Orioles pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. Devising a new collective bargaining agreement also is complex, but the sides met yesterday in Jupiter - they caucused for about three hours separately before reconvening late in the afternoon - and Major League Baseball reportedly made modifications on the bonus pool and draft lottery, but there were no discussions about the luxury tax. They'll try again this...

DH position has not been kind to Nats through the years

DH position has not been kind to Nats through the years
Whether the lockout ends later this week, later this month or just some time way later down the road, we do already know one significant change that appears to be coming to all of Major League Baseball. For all the rancor between the league and the players over a host of issues, the one hot-button topic they seem to agree on is the designated hitter. Despite more than 120 years of established history with pitchers batting for themselves, the National League is poised to make the DH a permanent...

What would a condensed spring training look like?

What would a condensed spring training look like?
We've tried to stay optimistic around here for the last 2 1/2 months, so until someone gives us legitimate reason not to be, we'll stay optimistic and hope Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association work out a deal within the next week and ensure opening day will proceed March 31 as planned. Even if that happens, though, it's going to be a wild scramble for everyone to get ready for spring training, open camps and get the proper work in to prepare players for the regular...

The birthday boy could still take his offense to a higher gear

The birthday boy could still take his offense to a higher gear
Ryan Mountcastle turned 25 on Friday. As he gets ready for his third big league season, let's take a look at a few ways he can take an impressive 117 career OPS+ and maybe even do a little better. After 140 plate appearances in his 2020 debut season, Mountcastle finished eighth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting and was still rookie-eligible in 2021. And he finished sixth in the voting after last season. Over 144 games and 586 plate appearances last season, he batted...

Spring training games delayed until at least March 5

Spring training games delayed until at least March 5
What had already been widely understood was made official by Major League Baseball this afternoon: Spring training is delayed due to the ongoing labor battle that has yet to produce a new collective bargaining agreement. With camps across Florida and Arizona supposed to open earlier this week, and with the Grapefruit and Cactus league schedules set to commence Feb. 26, a postponement had become inevitable. In its formal announcement today, MLB - which enacted a lockout of the players when the...

John Angelos on lockout, lease, concert, rebuild and more

John Angelos on lockout, lease, concert, rebuild and more
As baseball's lockout bleeds deeper into the month of February, threatening an on-time start to the 2022 season, Orioles chairman and CEO John Angelos remains hopeful that his club will be on the field March 31 for opening day at Camden Yards. Negotiations between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association will resume next week, perhaps with daily sessions, as the sides attempt to reach agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement by Feb. 28. Commissioner Rob Manfred has...