Representatives for Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association met until early this morning in Jupiter, Fla., while trying to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement, moving much closer to one than seemed possible when the sun came up. Blowing past the MLB-imposed deadline that softened and providing reasons to feel a little better about the state of the sport in 2022.
Various reports in the afternoon and early evening created a sense of optimism, but were followed after 9 p.m. with tweets, citing union sources and officials, saying there's "still a long way to go," and they're "still very far apart on key aspects of any deal."
By 11:40 p.m., the scales tilted again toward optimistic when USA Today's Bob Nightengale first reported that ownership lowered its postseason proposal from 14 to 12 teams and agreed to similar luxury tax penalties as in the last CBA. A huge hurdle was cleared.
By 12:02 a.m., Andy Martino of the New York Daily News was tweeting, "CBA talks clearly progressing, but there remain significant issues to resolve. Lockout ain't over yet."
Commissioner Rob Manfred attended multiple meetings at the Roger Dean Stadium complex. Progress was made in some key areas, per reports, but it's difficult to get an accurate read when both sides are delivering their messages separately through the media.
MLB expressed the earlier optimism, the union noted the large gaps that remained. And they kept talking as midnight approached and February turned to March.
And then I went to bed.
At last count, there had been 11 sessions as MLB reps kept walking back to the players' side - I guess text messaging and Zoom calls were frowned upon - and everyone seemed to be ignoring the warnings that an agreement needed to be reached by last night.
MLB reportedly had offered more player-favorable provisions on hot-button issues like the league-minimum salary, bonus pool for pre-arbitration players and competitive balance tax, but the push for a 14-team postseason was a major sticking point. The union had been willing to go only as high as 12.
The Orioles are supposed to begin their season on March 31 against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards, a three-game series that precedes trips to Boston and St. Petersburg, Fla. A delay hasn't been confirmed. We continue to wait.
Ten exhibition games have been lost so far, with the cancellations running through March 7. The Orioles have their only scheduled day off on March 8.
According to multiple reports, the union has organized a fully staffed stadium and training facility in Mesa, Ariz., in case the lockout continues, and a similar setup could be arranged in Florida.
Players on the 40-man roster can't access team facilities.
Meanwhile, the Orioles opened minor league camp yesterday morning for pitchers and catchers. Position players are due on March 8.
The shutdown won't impact non-roster players, and the minor league season will begin uninterrupted.
Pitcher Carter Baumler, a fifth-round pick in 2020 from Dowling Catholic High School in Iowa who underwent Tommy John surgery later that year, successfully threw his first live batting practice session yesterday. Baumler has been working out in Sarasota.
The miniscule number of Orioles minor league signings since the lockout brings an instinct to keep doubling back to one player.
I've quadrupled back to infielder Shed Long Jr., who agreed to terms on Feb. 16.
There isn't a wealth of fresh roster news and he's an interesting acquisition.
The Orioles wanted to improve their infield depth and Long gives them a candidate to play second base or to serve in a utility role, since he also has experience at third base and in left field. He also began his professional career as a catcher in 2013 and 2014 with the Reds' Rookie-level affiliates - a total of 42 games, including 36 starts.
Long threw out 11 of 21 runners attempting to steal in 2014 before he shed the position.
(He's also an interesting acquisition because of the puns.)
The Reds moved Long to second base the following year and traded him to the Yankees in January 2019 in the Sonny Gray deal. The Yankees sent him to the Mariners on the same day and he became a minor league free agent in November.
The Orioles like that he's only 26, a left-handed hitter with some power, and versatile. They don't care that a second leg surgery in October might put him on the injured list or in rehab mode. They can wait.
This is where the signing also creates interest. What's his status in camp? Can he be ready by April?
A former teammate compared Long to Tim Beckham, who played for the Orioles in 2017-18 and is remembered for his scorching start after they acquired him from the Rays at the deadline for minor league pitcher Tobias Myers - who remains in Tampa Bay's system, reached Triple-A last summer, has a career 3.41 ERA in 385 innings and averages nine strikeouts per nine innings.
Beckham went 50-for-127 (.394) with 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 19 RBIs and a 1.062 OPS in 29 games in August 2017. He slashed .160/.250/.280 in July with the Rays and .180/.255/.348 in September with the Orioles.
But I seriously digress ...
The former teammate also said Long has the potential to become a similar player to Yankees veteran outfielder Brett Gardner.
"Really athletic, a versatile defender," he said. "Can play many positions but not really elite at any one in particular. Generally shows good instincts in the outfield, has good range in the infield and pretty good hands. Has tremendous pop for a smaller frame. He hit the second farthest home run I saw next to (Shohei) Ohtani. Has the ability to shorten up and use all fields, but he tends to want to launch. Has nice plate discipline.
"I personally believe if he shortened up and went for solid contact over home runs, he could comp next to Brett Gardner. A left-handed hitter with a good eye, makes good contact and has the ability to put 15-20 in the seats on accident. He can bring some speed and athleticism to the basepaths. Lots of upside there. But injuries have plagued him. It would be intriguing to see him get 400-plus at-bats in a single season."
The Orioles signed Rougned Odor to play second base and they'll also have Rámon UrÃas, Jorge Mateo, Jahmai Jones, Kelvin Gutiérrez and Richie Martin in camp. Long may get a late start, but he has a chance to make an impression.
Note: Catcher Jordan Cannon, a 10th-round pick in the 2019 draft out of Sam Houston State, has retired.
Cannon appeared in 31 games with Single-A Delmarva last summer and batted .223/.326/.393. He hit .219/.320/.388 in 55 career games.
Minor League Baseball lists Cannon's retirement on Feb. 1.
Update: The sides met a few more times before closing down for the morning. They'll meet again later today with a 5 p.m. deadline to produce a new CBA without canceling regular season games.