MLB cancels first two regular-season series after labor negotiations end in stalemate

After a 16-hour negotiating session on Monday and a much less productive day on Tuesday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced the cancellation of the first two series of regular season games for each team in baseball. The games will not be made up.

“I had hoped against hope I would not have to have this particular press conference in which I am going to cancel some regular-season games,” Manfred said to kick things off after the MLBPA rejected the owners’ final offer of this bargaining session.

“We worked hard to avoid an outcome that’s bad for our fans, bad for our players, and bad for our clubs. I want to assure our fans that our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of effort by either party. The players came here for nine days, they worked hard, they tried to make a deal, and I appreciate their effort.”

Despite that amicable start, it didn’t take long for the finger pointing to begin.

“So far, the parties have failed to achieve their mutual goal of reaching their agreement. The unfortunate thing — maybe the most unfortunate thing — is that agreement, the one we’ve offered to our players, had offered huge benefits for our fans and for our players.”

While both sides agreed on a 12-team expanded playoff format and a universal designated hitter rule, the two sides were still far apart on economic issues despite coming closer to an agreement. MLB offered to raise minimum player salaries to $700,000 while the union was seeking $725,000. Players also wanted to increase the competitive balance tax (the soft cap) to $238 million with scheduled increases for the next three years. Owners offered to start the CBT at $220 million.

The union also has been fighting for a bonus pool for the top 30 pre-arbitration players based on Wins Above Replacement and other awards. Players have lowered their request to $85 million for the pool. The owners are offering $30 million.

“In total, we’re offering nearly a 33 percent raise to almost two-thirds of major league players, and we’re adding more than $100 million annually in additional compensation to this younger player group,” Manfred said.

Manfred covered items that MLB has agreed to with the players association, such as procedural rule changes like a pitch clock and eliminating shifts to improve the enjoyment of the product on the field. Then, things turned ominous.

“So what’s next?” he asked. “The calendar dictates that we’re not going to be able to play the first two series of the regular season, and those games are officially canceled.”

The Arizona Diamondbacks will not play their opening series against the Brewers in Milwaukee or against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. With no additional changes to the schedule — which remains to be seen — the D-backs will open the season at home against the San Diego Padres on April 7.

Manfred confirmed that negotiations will be delayed but will continue, still subtly placing blame on the union.

“We’re prepared to continue negotiations,” he said. “We’ve been informed the MLBPA is headed back to New York, meaning that no agreement is possible until at least Thursday.

“As such, camps could not meaningfully operate until at least March 8th, leaving only 23 days before the scheduled opening day. The clubs and our owners fully understand just how important it is to our millions of fans that we get the game on the field as soon as possible. To that end, we want to bargain and we want an agreement with the players association as quickly as possible.”

When asked why so much time was wasted by both sides over the past 90 days, Manfred didn’t provide a direct answer.

“I think the best answer to that question’s the last 10 days. We’ve been here ready to bargain — full committees, owners, players — for 10 days, and it got going two days before the deadline. That’s the best explanation I can give you.”

The two sides are scheduled to meet Thursday in New York with more regular-season games hanging in the balance should a deal not be reached this week.

Follow Derek Montilla on Twitter

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