Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistic about the status of the 2022 baseball season.
Manfred met with the media on Thursday, facing a multitude of questions about the current lockout and if the start of the 2022 baseball season is in jeopardy. Manfred believes there will be an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA in time to play the regular-season schedule.
“The status of spring training is no change right now,” Manfred said. “We understand where that calendar is.”
The sides are meeting on Saturday. He is not officially announcing a delay despite the day pitchers and catchers are supposed to report approaching.
Players not on the 40-man roster are allowed to practice and meet. The MiLB season is not affected by the MLB lockout. This could open doors toward MLB teams using minor league players to play major league spring training games but clubs do not intend to do that says the commissioner.
If and when a new CBA is agreed upon, Manfred estimates it will only take a week for spring training to get underway. He added that spring training needs to last about four weeks to start the regular season on time.
“I consider missing games as a disastrous outcome for this industry,” Manfred said.
When the league meets with the players on Saturday, Manfred says the proposal will be in good faith. This comes after a week of outspoken players saying the league is not negotiating in good faith.
“You’re always one breakthrough away from making an agreement,” Manfred said.
Then Manfred disputed the player’s claims.
“That’s a mutual responsibility of the bargaining parties,” Manfred said. “Phones work two ways.”
In non-lockout news, Manfred announced that the owners officially accepted a universal designated hitter for the 2022 season. They’ve also eliminated draft pick compensation, making way for a draft lottery.
Manfred’s claims are backed by a belief that the proposal put forth by the league on Saturday will meet the player demands. It’s going to need to be a drastic adjustment to their previous proposals where the players walked from the negotiating table irate.
