TOeven though he insisted that Major League Baseball will seek to settle differences with the union, Commissioner Rob Manfred suggested Thursday that the owners would prefer a lockout that marginalizes the players of their facilities if the current collective agreement expires on December 1 without a new agreement.
Major League Baseball have been through four stoppages of activities from 1972 to 95. However, labor peace has prevailed since a Seven-and-a-half-month strike began in August 1994 and forced the World Series to be discontinued for the first time in 90 years.
“We’ve been down this road before. There were stoppages in 1989-90,” Manfred said. “I don’t think 94 turned out very well for no one. I think that when you watch other sports, the pattern has been to control the timing of the labor dispute and try to minimize the possibility of actual season alterations. That’s what it’s all about, avoiding hurting the season. “
There have been talks since the beginning of this year, but at no time has there been an approach that allows us to suppose the type of agreement which was achieved in 2006, 2011 and 2016.
On 1990, there was a 32-day strike during the preseason. Although the opening game was delayed for a week, each team was able to complete the schedule normal of 162 encounters.
“I honestly can’t believe there’s a single fan in the world who doesn’t understand that a strike during the recess between campaigns, which allows the process to advance, is different than a labor dispute that sacrifices games, “Manfred said.
The so-called luxury tax was applied from a limit of 210 million dollars on payroll this year, with a rate of 20% for teams that exceeded the figure for the first time. The largest have proposed lowering the threshold to 180 million and raise the rate to 25%.
Also, teams have proposed a $ 100 million floor on payroll. The union is opposed, because the measure is linked to tax penalties at the upper limit.