New York Mets’ Max Scherzer arrives for MLB contract negotiations at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida on February 23, 2022.
New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer vocally bashed MLB for the lack of traction in lockout negotiations.
The deadline for MLB and the MLB Player’s Association to reach an agreement to avoid a the cancellation of regular season games is on Monday, Feb. 28. The two sides have met throughout the week on a daily basis in Jupiter, Fla. On Saturday, the two sides met with the MLBPA made an offer, which was denied by the owners.
After the meetings ended for the day, New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer stopped to sign autographs for fans waiting in the parking lot. In the process, Scherzer said that the negotiations are “not good” and that MLB doesn’t like what the player’s union has to say. That quote comes courtesy of Derrick S. Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Max Scherzer says MLB-MLBPA lockout negotiations ‘not good’
The chances of an agreement arriving before Feb. 28 certainly does not look good.
The MLBPA presented their counteroffer to owners on Saturday and caucused separately. According to Evan Drellich of The Athletic, MLB “reacted badly” to the proposal, which “outraged” players. Drellich notes that the competitive bargaining tax is still an area of contention between both sides. Additionally, the league wanted to link the draft lottery proposal to an expanded playoff. The league is still pushing for a 14-team playoff, while the players want 12.
In regards to when the two sides will meet next, reports indicate that there is no meeting scheduled for this Sunday as of this writing.
For the season to start on time, both sides will need to come up with an agreement in less than 48 hours. From the sounds of it, it is going to be a challenge.