Spring training likely to be delayed after CBA meeting yields no progress between MLB, MLBPA, sources say

The collective-bargaining meeting between the Major League Baseball Players Association and MLB on Tuesday afternoon led to no significant progress, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN, almost ensuring a delay to spring training.

While pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to some camps as early as Feb. 14, players and executives both anticipate the start of spring training will be postponed, sources said. How long will depend on the ramp-up of negotiations, which have dawdled since the league locked players out Dec. 2.

The MLBPA's proposal Tuesday included a drop in their bonus-pool request for pre-arbitration players from $105 million to $100 million, sources said.

The union also reduced its ask for the number of players who would be awarded an additional year of service time — shortening their path to free agency — via award voting and performance. All players who are top five in Rookie of the Year voting, top three in reliever of the year or make first- or second-team All-MLB would qualify alongside infielders who rank in the top seven of WAR at their position and outfielders, starting pitchers and relievers who are top 20. Previously, the union asked for those in the top 10 and 30, respectively.

The sliver of progress, sources said, stemmed from the union saying it was open to the idea of rewarding teams that do not manipulate a top prospect's service with a draft pick.

Major chasms between the sides remain on a number of key issues, almost all of which tie back to the game's core economics, which have shifted significantly in recent years in favor of teams. The average salary for players has dropped in four consecutive seasons, and players are seeking to reverse that in multiple areas.

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