Despite vitriol, MLB owners, locked-out players closing gap
RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer
Posted:
Updated:
NEW YORK (AP) — For all the vitriol, Major League Baseball owners and locked-out players have closed the gap in recent weeks and are negotiating on similar frameworks for a new collective bargaining agreement.
MLB told the union on Monday that Tuesday was the last possible day to reach an agreement that would allow a 162-game schedule, along with full salary and service time, a deadline first reported by The Athletic.
“This is a horrible, horrible situation. Everyone on the Yankees, everyone in Major League Baseball shares the blame, players, owners, executives for where we are. It’s a really bad look, especially (with) what’s going on in the world,” Yankees president Randy Levine said Monday on the team’s YES Network. “We all look pretty bad. … It’s embarrassing to be where we are.”
The sides appear to be about $15 million apart on the minimum salary for this year, $20 million for 2023 and $25 million for 2024, each less than 1% of payrolls. This assumes about half of players in the major leagues at any given time are impacted by the minimum.
Differences are greater in the final two seasons, when the union is asking for cost-of-living increases.
The gap in the new pre-arbitration bonus pool is $50 million this year, rising to $70 million by 2026. But, again, the percentage of overall payroll affected by this item is relatively small, under 2%.
And then there is the most divisive issue, luxury tax thresholds. The sides are $18 million apart this year, a difference rising to $33 million by 2026.
How much is each additional $1 million in threshold likely to produce in spending on players? There’s no exact formula.
In 18 seasons of the luxury tax, there have been three seasons in which one team paid tax, 10 with two, two with three and one each with four, five and six.
Including non-monetary penalties for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when the tax was suspended, there were 15 instances each of exceeding the first threshold during both the 2012-16 and 2017-21 agreements, up from nine in 2007-11 and eight in 2003-06.
A maximum estimate on luxury tax impact would be a five-times multiplier, and history shows the actual impact is likely to be less.
With much of this year’s free-agent class already signed, there are few stars other than Freddie Freeman and Carlos Correa who could drive a team above the threshold.
MLB is concerned a higher 2022 figure would lead to bigger threshold numbers in later years, causing greater payroll disparity and making it more costly for mid- and small-market clubs to retain their stars.
This negotiation is more than those prominent items, and mindset is as important as current positions.
The union thinks it has moved toward clubs by retreating from proposals for more liberalized free agency and the restoration of salary arbitration for eligibility for all players with at least two years of major league service. Players also say they would agree to uniform and helmet advertisements, to a speedier process for a pitch clock and shift limits and to expand the playoffs, though the union prefers 12 teams and MLB would like 14.
MLB thinks it has increased money going to players by expanding the designated hitter to the National League, dropping direct free agent compensation, increasing slot values for amateur draft picks, boosting the postseason pool and improving the pension plan.
Clubs believe they have addressed players’ concern that young stars have not been given appropriate salaries, and the union thinks the teams have not gone far enough. Teams also have backed off their proposals for higher penalties for teams over the tax threshold.
Both sides are close to an agreement on an amateur draft lottery aimed to incentive competition. Management has offered the top five selections and players asked for the top six, with some differences on limitations for teams participation in consecutive years.
Despite moving toward each other, the sides remain headed to a lost season unless they find a compromise.
“That’s a mind-boggling, horrid, horrid thought,” Levine said. “Shame on all of us if it ever gets to that.”
Ethan Miller
The cost to attend an NFL game is the most expensive among the major four sports leagues with an average cost of $157.07. The cheapest NFL team to watch live is the Cincinnati Bengals with an average cost of $105.69. Here are the five most expensive.
Ethan Miller
The Las Vegas Raiders moved into Allegiant Stadium prior to the 2020-21 season. Among NFL teams, the Raiders have the most expensive general admission ticket ($153.47), most expensive beer ($13) and most expensive hot dogs ($7.50).
Daniel Shirey
Levi's Stadium opened in 2014. To attend a San Francisco 49ers game is the second-most expensive among NFL teams and third-most expensive among all four major sports leagues.
Tom Pennington
The parking at AT&T Stadium is the most expensive of all the four major sports leagues. It costs more for parking at a Dallas Cowboys game ($75) than attending a Los Angeles Dodgers game ($70.66).
Jayne Kamin-Oncea
The Los Angeles Rams moved into SoFi Stadium prior to the 2020-21 season. The Rams sell the most expensive hot dogs among NFL teams with an average price of $7.50.
Dylan Buell
The Green Bay Packers are the only franchise owned by stockholders. The average price for a Green Bay Packers fan to attend a game at Lambeau Field with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $192.93.
Jonathan Daniel
The average cost to attend an MLB game with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $67.39, which is the cheapest of the major four sports leagues.
Jon Durr
Watching the Chicago Cubs comes at a hefty price. Wrigley Field is the most expensive MLB game for fans to attend with an average price of $109.78.
Maddie Meyer
Among all the MLB teams, the Boston Red Sox have the priciest general admission ticket. The average ticket price at Fenway Park is $60.09.
Ezra Shaw
At $29, the parking at Yankees Stadium is the most expensive of all MLB stadiums.
ALEX EDELMAN
The most expensive hot dog of all MLB stadiums can be found at a Washington Nationals home game. Hot dogs cost fans $7.25 at Nationals games.
Tim Warner
The average price for Houston Astros fans to attend a game at Minute Maid Park with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $89.83.
Rob Carr
The NBA is the second-most expensive league in terms of attending a game with an average cost of $120.13.
Alex Goodlett
An average New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden will cost fans $260.38, the most expensive of all of the four major sports leagues. Among NBA teams, the Knicks have the most expensive general admission tickets ($180.78), most expensive parking ($45) and most expensive hot dog ($8.50).
Ezra Shaw
The Golden State Warriors moved into Chase Center before the 2019-20 season and became the second-most expensive NBA game to attend with an average cost of $230.30. The Warriors sell the most expensive hot dogs in the NBA with an average cost of $8.50.
Sean M. Haffey
It's no surprise that attending a Los Angeles Lakers game is expensive. The average cost for Lakers fans to attend a game at Staple Center with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $190.76.
Elsa
The TD Garden has been the home of the Boston Celtics since 1995. The average price for a Boston Celtics fan to attend a game at TD Garden with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $167.16.
Jonathan Daniel
Even though the Chicago Bulls missed the playoffs with a 22-43 record during the 2019-20 season, the United Center was still the fifth-most expensive NBA stadium to attend a game with an average cost of $154.01.
Adam Glanzman
While it's not as cheap as the average price to attend an MLB game, an NHL game is still reasonable compared to an NFL or NBA game. The average cost for a NHL game with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $114.47.
Bruce Bennett
Even though an average New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden isn't as expensive as a New York Knicks game, it's still the most expensive game to attend in the NHL with an average cost of $182.43. The Rangers also sell the most expensive beer in the league, which will set a fan back $15.
Bruce Bennett
The parking at TD Garden for a Boston Bruins game will cost an average of $29, the most expensive among NHL teams.Including a ticket, two beers, a hot dog and the parking, a Bruins game will cost an average of $162.36.
Claus Andersen
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the most popular hockey team in Canada, and the ticket prices prove it. Scotiabank Arena offers the most expensive general admissions ticket in the NHL with an average ticket costing $128.69.
Jonathan Daniel
Even though the Chicago Blackhawks finished last in the Central Division during the 2019-20 season, the United Center still sets a fan back $153.63 to attend an NHL game.
Ethan Miller
The newest addition to the NHL is the Las Vegas Golden Knights and T-Mobile Arena where the average price to attend a game is $153.36. The Golden Knights are home to the most expensive hot dog in the NHL, which will cost a fan $7.
Wilfredo Lee
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference after negotiations with the players' association toward a labor deal, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Manfred said he is canceling the first two series of the season that was set to begin March 31, dropping the schedule from 162 games to likely 156 games at most. Manfred said the league and union have not made plans for future negotiations. Players won't be paid for missed games. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
