(Arlington) In the context of the major league’s first work stoppage in 26 years, Commissioner Rob Manfred and players’ union leader Tony Clark present diametrically opposed views.
Their differences suggest a long lockout.
In separate press conferences, Manfred said the union’s proposal for faster access to autonomy and wage arbitration would hurt small markets.
Clark, the first former player to lead the union, accused Manfred of “misrepresentation” in his letter to fans.
PHOTO LM OTERO, AP
The head of the players’ union, Tony Clark
Clark said “with the time that seems to have been given to write this letter, it would have been beneficial for the process to have spent so much time negotiating.”
“There’s no point in continuing the dialogue,” adds Clark. At the first appearance of conflict in a long time, baseball made the strategic decision to declare a lockout. ”
The dispute threatens the start of camps on February 16 and the start of the regular season on March 31.
A deal by mid-March is needed for a full season.
In many ways, after 26 and a half years without a labor dispute, the parties have returned to the bitter feuds that marked eight work stoppages from 1972 to 1995.
This included a seven-and-a-half-month strike that led to the cancellation of the World Series in 1994.
The owners locked players out at 12:01 am Thursday after the collective agreement, which dated five years ago, expired.
“If you play without there being a deal, you are vulnerable to a strike at any time,” Manfred said.
“In 1994, the MLBPA picked August as the playoff big-money approached. We wanted to take that option out and try to force the parties to sort things out and get a deal now. ”
The players were granted salary arbitration in 1974 and access to autonomy two years later.
Most of the previous conflicts have centered on the increase in top wages caused by the two elements above.
There were also demands, mainly from owners of small and medium-sized markets, to control costs and increase their ability to compete.
Management has won a series of restrictions over the past two decades such as a luxury tax, leading to lower average wages.
“On a whole list of issues, they told us they weren’t going to negotiate,” said Bruce Meyer, the players’ chief counsel. They will not agree, for example, to extend eligibility to wage arbitration. “
“They will not accept any path for a player to gain autonomy earlier. “
“They will not accept anything that would give players additional means of obtaining serve time to combat the manipulation of that serve time. ”
The union is angry that in recent seasons many clubs have dumped veterans in favor of rebuilding, while racking up hopeful players.
“Our proposals would positively affect the competitive equilibrium,” said Meyer.
“We’ve all seen in recent years the problem of teams not seeming to be trying to put the best team on the pitch. ”
Manfred is not of the same opinion.
“We already have teams from smaller markets that are struggling to compete,” said Manfred. Shortening the time that they control their players would make it even more difficult for them to be competitive.
“It’s also a bad thing for the supporters in these markets. The most negative reaction is when a player leaves as a free agent.
“A faster path to that is not something we see as a positive. ”