MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
As the MLB and MLBPA continued negotiations for a new CBA, commissioner Rob Manfred announced another postponement for Opening Day 2022.
The earliest fans can expect to enjoy Opening Day for the 2022 baseball season is now April 14.
MLB announced on Wednesday that they still had not reached a deal after another round of negotiations with the players’ union.
As a result, another two series at the front end of the 2022 season have been “removed from the schedule.”
That means four total series have been nixed from the calendar. Opening Day was originally pushed back to April 7.
Rob Manfred statement on MLB postponing Opening Day again
Here’s what commissioner Rob Manfred had to say in a statement:
“In a last-ditch effort to preserve a 162-game season, this week we have made good-faith proposals that address the specific concerns voiced by the MLBPA and would have allowed the
players to return to the field immediately. The Clubs went to extraordinary lengths to meet the
substantial demands of the MLBPA. On the key economic issues that have posed stumbling blocks the Clubs proposed ways to bridge gaps to preserve a full schedule. Regrettably, after our
second late-night bargaining session in a week, we remain without a deal.
“Because of the logistical realities of the calendar, another two series are being removed from the schedule, meaning that Opening Day is postponed until April 14th. We worked hard to reach an agreement and offered a fair deal with significant improvements for the players and our fans. I am saddened by this situation’s continued impact on our game and all those who are a part of it, especially our loyal fans.
“We have the utmost respect for our players and hope they will ultimately choose to accept the fair agreement they have been offered.”
The players and owners continue to debate over a series of issues for the new collective bargaining agreement. The MLBPA and owners have reportedly offered and counteroffered this week but they continue hit roadblocks on things like the international draft and the competitive balance tax.