TOused to the slow pace of the free agent market in recent winters, CEOs are taking the threat of a work stoppage in stride, showing no intention of speeding up the times in this recess.
In other sports there is afmove remanence in the early days of free agency. But in baseball, the top free agents make their decisions every time. closer to the start of the preseason.
A work stoppage seems likely as of December 1, when the collective bargaining agreement expires. It would be el first unemployment in 26 years.
“We are thinking about business and we remain optimistic that what we have seen essentially in the last three decades will continue. “ said Rick Hahn, general manager of the Chicago White Sox Tuesday, on the opening day of work during the first face-to-face meeting in two years of Major League Baseball General Managers.
Practically the same words were repeated in each of the managers operations of other teams, which seemed to be the official speech agreed upon in the face of his appearance in front of the press.
Without an agreement, teams will not be certain of the level that the luxury tax will reach. for the 2022 season. The current system ends with the expiration of the labor agreement.
“I think you can get paralyzed trying to plan for each of the possibilities,” Houston manager James Click said when discussing the options. “Obviously there are a lot of forms the baseball landscape can take in the next month or two. We are optimistic about it. Hopefully, everything will work out as usual. And we will try to plan it as best as possible. But we are dealing with the global economy that we have for now and trying to plan for future potential. “
Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem, responsible for the negotiation, was present at the managers meeting together with Bruce Meyer, the Director of Bargaining and Legal Representative of the Players Union, who was at the neighboring hotel in Carlsbad for the sessions with the players’ agents.