(New York) Major league baseball players went to checkout on Wednesday as teams untied the purse strings like never before before being locked out.
The clubs have awarded contracts totaling a record $ 1.4 billion for a single day.
This shortly before we are heading for a lockout, the result of the expiry of the collective agreement at midnight, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday.
The last labor dispute dates back 26 and a half years, or 9,740 days.
The current confrontation has been taking shape for more than two years.
Major league baseball negotiators reportedly left the hotel where the talks were being held by mid-afternoon – without proposing any real changes to the business model, according to the players.
Among the demands of the players, a correction as to the average salary, which is down. They decry the use of young players with lower wages, to the detriment of fired veterans.
Six nine-figure contracts were awarded on Wednesday, including two by the Rangers, to Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.
The Tigers have hired Javier Báez, Mets Max Scherzer, Jays Kevin Gausman and Twins Byron Buxton, among several deals.
It was the first time that teams, in total, spent over $ 1 billion in a single day.
“There’s something nice about it,” Scherzer said. Seeing everyone sign at the same time, seeing teams spend to win like that, it’s refreshing.
“During the last dead seasons, things were not moving. ”
In the context of a labor dispute, players and teams may have feared a very short period of autonomy in the spring, if the lockout extended.
Training camps are scheduled to begin on February 16 and the regular season on March 31.
Teams will likely not be able to communicate with players during a lockout.
However, big names remain available such as shortstop Carlos Correa, first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Trevor Story and outfielder Nick Castellanos.
These free agents and others may have to wait until the spring or later to find a club.
Major League Baseball has rejected a request to reduce the length of service required to achieve independence, or to qualify for salary arbitration.
Tony Clark, who heads the players’ union, said they are united and recognize the need to stay united to achieve common goals.
Rob Manfred, who became commissioner in 2015, has made it clear that the major leagues prefer an offseason lockout over a campaign strike.