News Analysis: Simmering anger between MLB team owners and players could jeopardize season
4 years, 9 months ago

News Analysis: Simmering anger between MLB team owners and players could jeopardize season

LA Times  

Two men walk into a room and. On Monday, after suggesting on national television that owners might cancel the season, commissioner Rob Manfred flew to Arizona to meet with Tony Clark, executive director of the players’ union. Dodgers MLB players’ union proposes 70-game season The latest proposal in negotiations to start the 2020 MLB season came two days after the owners thought they had a deal for a 60-game season. Indeed, by lengthening the proposed schedule and adding deal points, one league official said the union did not move toward a deal but instead “went backwards in every direction.” Angels Angels reverse decision to furlough scouts as MLB relaxes rules The Angels will begin their preparation for the 2021 draft with a crew of nine scouts after the MLB lifted a ban on in-person scouting earlier this week. After the players demanded “tell us when and where” last weekend, the league official said, the players came back with “when and where plus what we want.” But the “when and where” was about a season the owners would impose, at a length the owners would impose.

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History of this topic

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says some fans concerned over lack of salary cap
1 month, 3 weeks ago

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says some fans concerned over lack of salary cap

Associated Press  

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he is getting emails from fans concerned over the sport’s lack of a salary cap following an offseason spending spree by the Los Angeles Dodgers that sparked increased attention over the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement in December 2027. Salary caps are ALWAYS one-sided relationship.” New Baltimore Orioles owner David …

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reflects on decade spent putting ‘my mark on the game’
2 months ago

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reflects on decade spent putting ‘my mark on the game’

New York Times  

NEW YORK — The passage of time is an unavoidable conversation these days for Rob Manfred, the 66-year-old commissioner of Major League Baseball. “I had come to the conclusion in my own mind that whatever change you make, there’s going to be people who call it heresy, so you can’t make decisions based on that,” Manfred said. “The pitch clock …

Yankees’ Steinbrenner: MLB commish Manfred’s TV plan should be optional ‘at the very least’
4 months ago

Yankees’ Steinbrenner: MLB commish Manfred’s TV plan should be optional ‘at the very least’

New York Times  

Before baseball commissioner Rob Manfred can enact his plan to reshape the sport’s television landscape, he’s going to have to clear one major hurdle: the big-market teams. As The Athletic reported last week, Manfred is pushing for Major League Baseball’s central office to take control of local team broadcast rights so it can sell more inventory nationally come 2028. But …

Rob Manfred gives Rays 2026 deadline for stadium plan, says league expansion still proceeding
4 months, 1 week ago

Rob Manfred gives Rays 2026 deadline for stadium plan, says league expansion still proceeding

New York Times  

NEW YORK — The Tampa Bay Rays likely need a plan for their permanent home no later than 2026, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday, appearing to give the team at least a year’s grace to sort through an increasingly confrontational dispute with government officials over financing for a new park. “Given the devastation in that area, it’s kind of …

Clark vows to keep deliberations internal after failed attempt to oust baseball union negotiator
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Clark vows to keep deliberations internal after failed attempt to oust baseball union negotiator

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Texas — Baseball players’ association head Tony Clark vowed to keep the union’s deliberations internal following a failed attempt in March to remove his chief labor negotiator. Harry Marino, a former union lawyer who spearheaded the organization of minor leaguers, marshaled an attempt to get the union’s executive board to oust deputy executive director Bruce Meyer, who led talks …

Rob Manfred talks Nike’s MLB uniform woes, pitcher injuries, more
10 months, 1 week ago

Rob Manfred talks Nike’s MLB uniform woes, pitcher injuries, more

New York Times  

NEW YORK — Nike blamed itself for MLB’s uniform woes this year when speaking to MLB’s owners this week, according to commissioner Rob Manfred, who addressed that and other major topics concerning the league Thursday. “I think they appropriately took responsibility for the issues with respect to the new uniforms and the rollout of those uniforms,” Manfred said at the …

Rob Manfred says MLB will discuss postseason format, but commissioner likes it
1 year, 5 months ago

Rob Manfred says MLB will discuss postseason format, but commissioner likes it

New York Times  

ARLINGTON, Texas — Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday that although he likes the current design of the playoffs, the league has heard enough complaints and chatter around the format — and whether it does enough to acknowledge regular-season success — that his office will discuss it. “That’s kind of how baseball playoffs are, and frankly, how I …

Rob Manfred says MLB owners want to limit player contract lengths; Tony Clark says MLBPA won’t approve
1 year, 11 months ago

Rob Manfred says MLB owners want to limit player contract lengths; Tony Clark says MLBPA won’t approve

New York Times  

Rob Manfred and baseball’s owners would like to limit the length of major league player contracts. “The public statements from Rob Manfred about the owners’ desire to limit guaranteed contracts is just one more in a series of statements attacking fundamental aspects of baseball’s free market system and the freedom of clubs and players to structure deals in the best …

MLB prepared to take over local TV broadcasts from Sinclair
2 years, 1 month ago

MLB prepared to take over local TV broadcasts from Sinclair

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I think you should assume that if Diamond doesn’t …

MLB commissioner Manfred says 2023 ‘big year’ for A’s future
2 years, 3 months ago

MLB commissioner Manfred says 2023 ‘big year’ for A’s future

Associated Press  

SAN DIEGO — The Oakland Athletics will have their relocation fee waived if they decide to move to Las Vegas, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says 2023 is a big year when it comes to the future of the franchise. Speaking at baseball’s winter meetings in San Diego, Manfred also said the Los Angeles Angels hope to have their sale …

Rob Manfred: Angels would like sale completed by opening day
2 years, 3 months ago

Rob Manfred: Angels would like sale completed by opening day

LA Times  

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred walks on the field before Game 2 of an American League Division Series between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners on Oct. 13. “My understanding is that the club would like to have the sale resolved before opening day,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday. “The RSN model as it exists today is probably not sustainable …

Rob Manfred talks Pete Rose letter, FTX partnership, MLB rule changes and more
2 years, 4 months ago

Rob Manfred talks Pete Rose letter, FTX partnership, MLB rule changes and more

New York Times  

NEW YORK — Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday afternoon he was “absolutely confident” that the Mets and Yankees were above board in their communications about Aaron Judge. “I’m absolutely confident that the clubs behaved in a way that was consistent with the agreement,” Manfred said at MLB’s headquarters, where he held a press conference following the league’s quarterly owners’ meetings. …

Manfred says `prudent’ A’s are exploring Las Vegas ballpark
2 years, 5 months ago

Manfred says `prudent’ A’s are exploring Las Vegas ballpark

Associated Press  

PHILADELPHIA — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred thinks the Oakland Athletics made a good decision to explore a possible new ballpark in Las Vegas, expressing frustration their stadium situation remains unsolved in an industry just shy of $11 billion in revenue this year. Team president Dave Kaval has said the club was working on plans along “parallel paths” in Oakland and …

MLB adopts pitch clock, shift limits, bigger bases for 2023
2 years, 6 months ago

MLB adopts pitch clock, shift limits, bigger bases for 2023

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is introducing some of its most radical rules next season, adopting a pitch clock and limiting defensive shifts after concluding modern analytics created a slower, less entertaining sport. “It reminded me of the game that I grew up watching in the ’70s and ’80,” said former outfielder Raúl Ibañez, now an MLB senior vice …

MLB to Congress: Without our antitrust exemption, players and fans lose
2 years, 8 months ago

MLB to Congress: Without our antitrust exemption, players and fans lose

LA Times  

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, shown in November, wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee that players could lose job opportunities and communities could lose minor league teams if baseball is stripped of its antitrust exemption. Instead, players could lose job opportunities and communities could lose minor league teams, the league said in a 17-page letter to the committee exploring whether to …

Congress asks Rob Manfred for MLB antitrust rationale in letter
2 years, 8 months ago

Congress asks Rob Manfred for MLB antitrust rationale in letter

LA Times  

The Senate Judiciary Committee got right to the point in a letter to Commissioner Rob Manfred on Monday: If America’s other major sports have to follow antitrust law, why should baseball remain exempt from that law? In Monday’s letter, the committee told Manfred it wished to focus on “the exemption’s impact on competition in the labor market for minor league …

Manfred says Rays, A’s need new ballpark deals soon
2 years, 9 months ago

Manfred says Rays, A’s need new ballpark deals soon

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics need to reach new ballpark deals soon and left open the possibility of considering relocation if agreements are not struck. “Obviously, the end of that lease is a hard deadline, but you need to take into account that stadiums take a little bit of time …

Test for MLB players will be how deal looks to them in '26
3 years ago

Test for MLB players will be how deal looks to them in '26

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And I think that the changes that were made …

Play ball! MLB players reach deal, salvage 162-game season
3 years ago

Play ball! MLB players reach deal, salvage 162-game season

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s players and owners ended their most bitter money fight in a quarter-century Thursday when the players’ association accepted management’s offer to salvage a 162-game season that will start April 7. “Our union endured the second-longest work stoppage in its history to achieve significant progress in key areas that will improve not just current players’ …

MLB cancels another week of games as talks to end lockout break down
3 years ago

MLB cancels another week of games as talks to end lockout break down

LA Times  

Locked gates are shown at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team. When owners and players resumed discussions this week, the league offered to reschedule those games as part of a new agreement, providing a full 162-game season and full pay for players. Now, with what the league probably considers too many games to reschedule, the players’ union …

The Lords of Baseball Think You’re Stupid
55 years, 3 months ago

The Lords of Baseball Think You’re Stupid

Slate  

Major League Baseball’s first lie is the one it tells about itself. Everything about MLB’s messaging underlines that it is Manfred and 30 team owners who represent baseball and protect it from the malign influence of the men who actually play the game. “I first want to thank you for your continued support of the great game of baseball,” Manfred’s …

‘Manfred gotta go’: Players throwing high heat at MLB’s decision to cancel games
3 years, 1 month ago

‘Manfred gotta go’: Players throwing high heat at MLB’s decision to cancel games

LA Times  

Giants pitcher Alex Wood, shown in a playoff game against the Dodgers on Oct. 11, 2021, said what players are seeking from MLB is “more than fair.” By the early hours of Tuesday morning, hope seemed to be pulsing throughout baseball. Major League Baseball owners and the players union had been negotiating deep into the night in Florida, trying to …

Manfred joins in, MLB lockout talks appear to gain momentum
3 years, 1 month ago

Manfred joins in, MLB lockout talks appear to gain momentum

Associated Press  

JUPITER, Fla. — Baseball players and owners took a first step toward salvaging opening day, nearing agreement Friday on an amateur draft lottery during lockout negotiations that included a surprise one-on-one meeting between Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark. While an agreement on the draft was not complete, the talks gained momentum for the first time as Major …

Commentary: Angry negotiations leave league divided as Rob Manfred and owners keep players united
3 years, 1 month ago

Commentary: Angry negotiations leave league divided as Rob Manfred and owners keep players united

LA Times  

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 10. However, after an angry afternoon of negotiations Saturday, it is even fairer to say commissioner Rob Manfred and the owners have done more to keep the players united than the union ever could. But whatever players might have heard from union leadership pales in comparison …

MLB: Season to be shortened if no deal by end of Monday
3 years, 1 month ago

MLB: Season to be shortened if no deal by end of Monday

Associated Press  

JUPITER, Fla. — Major League Baseball said only five days remain to salvage March 31 openers and a full season, telling locked out players that games would be canceled if a labor contract is not agreed to by the end of Monday. Players have not accepted Monday as a deadline and have suggested any missed games could be made up …

Rosenthal: The pressure is mounting — MLB cannot afford to lose games this season
3 years, 2 months ago

Rosenthal: The pressure is mounting — MLB cannot afford to lose games this season

New York Times  

Not a single game should be lost. Commissioner Rob Manfred initiated the lockout, then was rightly pilloried for calling it “defensive” and saying it was intended to “jumpstart” the negotiations, when in reality 43 days would pass before the league presented the union with an offer on core economic issues. It is doubtful Manfred will ever reach agreement with the …

Major League Baseball locks out players in first work stoppage since 1994
3 years, 3 months ago

Major League Baseball locks out players in first work stoppage since 1994

Firstpost  

In a “Letter to Fans” posted on Twitter, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he was disappointed that the league was “forced to commence a lockout of Major League Players, effective at 12:01 am on December 2.” Major League Baseball locked out its players shortly after midnight on Thursday as failure to agree on a new collective contract sparked the sport’s …

Commentary: MLB owners make their bargaining position clear: No
3 years, 3 months ago

Commentary: MLB owners make their bargaining position clear: No

LA Times  

As major league teams lavished close to $2 billion on players in the final days ahead of Wednesday night’s lockout, fans and analysts frantically searched for clues toward the resolution of baseball’s labor mess. For years, players told owners to resolve that problem among themselves, and the owners finally agreed to revenue sharing, where teams like the Dodgers subsidize teams …

MLB players want change, and Bruce Meyer is fighting to deliver it: ‘The other side is not going to be happy with me’
3 years, 4 months ago

MLB players want change, and Bruce Meyer is fighting to deliver it: ‘The other side is not going to be happy with me’

New York Times  

Even Max Scherzer, one of the most intense players in baseball, calls Bruce Meyer no-nonsense. “The ultimate difficulty for us is communicating to 1,200 players, and being able to predict what the other side’s actually doing and what their proposals mean,” Miller said. “Unless this CBA completely addresses the competition and younger players getting paid, that’s the only way I’m …

Commentary: Rob Manfred stood by players, managers and owners by rightfully moving All-Star game
3 years, 11 months ago

Commentary: Rob Manfred stood by players, managers and owners by rightfully moving All-Star game

LA Times  

Rob Manfred could have played it safe. When a team of New York Times reporters did, their analysis revealed “a breathtaking assertion of partisan power in elections … identifying 16 provisions that hamper the right to vote for some Georgians or strip power from state and local elections officials and give it to legislators.” The Dodgers’ Dave Roberts, one of …

Tone is set for MLB and players’ union CBA negotiations, and it isn’t amicable
4 years ago

Tone is set for MLB and players’ union CBA negotiations, and it isn’t amicable

LA Times  

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws a pitch. As the league office and the union negotiated health and safety protocols for this second pandemic season, the union kept putting “universal DH” in its drafts of the protocols. “While there are concerns related to other areas that we may or may not have been able to find disagreement on,” …

MLB proposes delayed 154-game season and expanded playoffs to players
4 years, 2 months ago

MLB proposes delayed 154-game season and expanded playoffs to players

LA Times  

The Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays before Game 3 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Major League Baseball has proposed delaying the season by about a month and playing the World Series in November, said people familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly Sunday. The owners also asked the players’ union …

Skeptical of MLB’s claims, Tony Clark sets winter position for players’ union
4 years, 4 months ago

Skeptical of MLB’s claims, Tony Clark sets winter position for players’ union

New York Times  

The last time Major League Baseball and the Players Association talked economics, they entered into more than two months of public haranguing, something that both sides regret — at least, from a public-relations standpoint. “Both discussions are front and center, and it won’t be until we sit down formally and have dialogue with the league that we’ll have an appreciation …

Inside NHL’s plan for 2020-21 season: It’s ‘more challenging’ than summer return
4 years, 5 months ago

Inside NHL’s plan for 2020-21 season: It’s ‘more challenging’ than summer return

New York Times  

The NHL spared no expense, spending an estimated $75-90 million to isolate 24 teams and administer 33,394 COVID-19 tests to complete the 2019-20 season. First, the current COVID-19 numbers in North America make it so that, if the NHL truly expects to open next season “on or around Jan. 1,” it’s hard to imagine any way the league can open …

Exclusive: MLB chief Rob Manfred discusses a possible playoff bubble in L.A. and more
4 years, 7 months ago

Exclusive: MLB chief Rob Manfred discusses a possible playoff bubble in L.A. and more

LA Times  

The Dodgers have the best record in the major leagues. In order to maximize the chances to complete four rounds of postseason play without a coronavirus outbreak or shutdown, the league office and the players’ union are discussing a playoff bubble. However, even in a season without fans, the league is wary of a scenario where a team would play …

MLB Commissioner Confident League Can Get Through Season, Playoffs Despite Coronavirus
4 years, 7 months ago

MLB Commissioner Confident League Can Get Through Season, Playoffs Despite Coronavirus

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING NEW YORK — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he’s confident his sport can get through the regular season and postseason without being stopped by the coronavirus, though not every club might play all 60 games and winning percentage could be used to determine playoff teams. Just 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic-delayed regular season shortened from 162 …

Rob Manfred, union talk as Major League Baseball grapples with coronavirus
4 years, 8 months ago

Rob Manfred, union talk as Major League Baseball grapples with coronavirus

LA Times  

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, left, spoke with MLB Players Assn. With six teams idled Friday by the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to union leader Tony Clark about the importance of players following the sport’s coronavirus protocols. “And the last thing I want to do when I’m trying to play and do my job is be …

Baseball’s back: MLB sets 60-game sked, opens July 23 or 24
4 years, 9 months ago

Baseball’s back: MLB sets 60-game sked, opens July 23 or 24

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic following months of acrimony. I think we need to be patient and even where we have the option, we need to make sure that we know exactly …

MLB, players agree to restart baseball season with scheduling and rules tweaks.
55 years, 3 months ago

MLB, players agree to restart baseball season with scheduling and rules tweaks.

Slate  

After an acrimonious several months of negotiations, Major League Baseball and the players’ union agreed Tuesday to a restart of what will be an abridged version of the 2020 season. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced this season will be a 60-game sprint, roughly a third of the normal 162-game schedule, beginning in one month’s time. Spring training, which was abruptly …

MLB aims to play 60 games in 2020, source says, after teams unanimously vote to proceed with season
4 years, 9 months ago

MLB aims to play 60 games in 2020, source says, after teams unanimously vote to proceed with season

CNN  

CNN — Major League Baseball announced Monday that clubs have unanimously voted to proceed with the 2020 season under the terms of their agreement with the MLB Players Association from March. A source familiar with the talks told CNN that the league is aiming for a 60-game regular season provided that the players consent to the health and safety protocols. …

MLB players’ union proposes 70-game season
4 years, 9 months ago

MLB players’ union proposes 70-game season

LA Times  

Baseball union chief Tony Clark is working on a “a jointly developed framework” with Commissioner Rob Manfred to start the 2020 MLB season. Two days after major league owners thought they had a deal for a 60-game season, the players’ union on Thursday proposed a 70-game season. That could set the stage for a settlement of 65 or so games, …

Baseball players say talks futile, tell MLB to order return
4 years, 9 months ago

Baseball players say talks futile, tell MLB to order return

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball appears headed to its shortest season since the 1870s. “The MLBPA’s position that players are entitled to virtually all the revenue from a 2020 season played without fans is not fair to the thousands of other baseball employees that clubs and our office are supporting financially during this very difficult 2020 season,” the commissioner’s …

MLB owners to reject players’ proposal, offer counter; Manfred: There will be a season
4 years, 9 months ago

MLB owners to reject players’ proposal, offer counter; Manfred: There will be a season

LA Times  

Rob Manfred made two points loud and clear Wednesday: There will be a major league season in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the owners are not backing off their insistence that players take an additional pay cut to play a longer season. “One-hundred percent.” Manfred said owners would reject the proposal made by players Tuesday and would “shortly” submit …

MLBPA to MLB owners: How about an 89-game season?
4 years, 9 months ago

MLBPA to MLB owners: How about an 89-game season?

LA Times  

In their latest restart proposal to MLB owners amid the coronavirus outbreak, the players are pushing for an 89-game season with prorated salaries. If the final move is that Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred mandates the shorter season, that could be disastrous on three fronts: public perception of a league in which stars might sit out rather than play …

MLB makes a new pitch to players: 76-game season and a smaller pay cut
4 years, 9 months ago

MLB makes a new pitch to players: 76-game season and a smaller pay cut

LA Times  

Rob Manfred made his name in baseball as the lead labor negotiator for the owners, an architect of 25 years of labor peace. The owners proposed a 76-game season, but not at the prorated salaries on which players have held firm. Instead, the owners offered to pay 75% of the prorated salaries — unless a coronavirus outbreak forces a cancellation …

AP source: MLB players offer 114-game season, no more $ cuts
4 years, 9 months ago

AP source: MLB players offer 114-game season, no more $ cuts

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball players ignored claims by clubs that they need to take additional pay cuts, instead proposing they receive a far higher percentage of salaries and commit to a longer schedule as part of a counteroffer to start the coronavirus-delayed season. Opening day would be June 30 and the regular season would end Oct. 31, nearly …

Players call MLB economic proposal `extremely disappointing’
4 years, 10 months ago

Players call MLB economic proposal `extremely disappointing’

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — A rookie at the major league minimum would keep about 47% of his original salary this year while multimillionaire stars Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole would lose more than 77% under a sliding-scale proposal by big league teams that players found “extremely disappointing.” Major League Baseball made the proposal to the players’ union on Tuesday during a …

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred defends his punishment of the Houston Astros
5 years, 1 month ago

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred defends his punishment of the Houston Astros

LA Times  

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred had some words of warning for pitchers seeking retribution against the Houston Astros for their illegal sign-stealing scheme that aided their 2017 World Series championship. “I made it extremely clear to them that retaliation in-game by throwing at a batter intentionally will not be tolerated, whether it’s Houston or anybody else,” Manfred said during a news …

MLB threatens to walk away from Minor League Baseball
5 years, 3 months ago

MLB threatens to walk away from Minor League Baseball

LA Times  

Major League Baseball threw a high, hard brushback pitch at Minor League Baseball late Friday night: Shut up and negotiate, or we’ll run our own minor league system without you. MLB quickly responded, choosing not to rebut the MiLB statement point-by-point but instead to threaten to end minor league baseball as we know it. “Otherwise, MLB clubs will be free …

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