MLB CBA: Sides Enter Crucial Week to Avoid Delay

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred looks on prior to Game One of the World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 26, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred looks on prior to Game One of the World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 26, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

If the owners and players want to avoid a delay to Spring Training, then there is a lot of ground that needs to be made this week towards a MLB CBA. 

While the most important thing is making sure we have a new MLB CBA before needing to delay any regular-season games, I’m still hopeful they can avoid delaying Spring Training.

I know that’s being a bit optimistic as we enter the month of February and the two sides are still pretty far apart on the biggest issues.

But I’ve been saying for a while now that it’s in the best interest of the game to have a normal Spring Training for pitchers to try and avoid all the injuries that we had in 2021.

After a shortened 2020 season we all knew it would be a difficult adjustment for starting pitchers going back to a 162 game schedule. As a result, we saw a ton of injuries to starting pitchers.

Spring Training is strictly for starting pitchers to get stretched out and prepare their arms to throw 170-plus stressful innings. Hitters really only need a couple of weeks to get ready.

That’s why I hope both sides of this MLB CBA are feeling the pressure as we enter February and the date for pitchers and catchers reporting is only 16 days away.

And let’s not forget the fact there are a lot of unsigned free agents that need a home, including Freddie Freeman. I’m sure there will be a frenzy of moves made once a new MLB CBA is agreed upon, but you still need to give front offices and players time to work out those deals.

That’s what could really delay the start of the regular season. If you don’t have a MLB CBA agreement by early March that’s not enough time to finish the offseason and get players prepared for a March 31 Opening Day.

It certainly seems like both sides sense the urgency as they met three times last week. There were rumors Sunday that the two sides would meet again on Monday, but that appeared to be false.

Let’s hope they are indeed planning to meet early this week because if they don’t make significant ground this upcoming week I’m afraid the start of Spring Training will be in jeopardy.

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