January 3rd, 2022 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka During a mid-December airing of Access SportsNet: Dodgers, former Dodgers General Manager and current SportsNet LA analyst Ned Colletti said that he doesn’t think negotiations between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association towards a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (thus bringing an end to the current MLB lockout) will begin in earnest “…until around the middle of February.” He quickly added, however, that he believes that a new CBA will be in place before the scheduled start of Spring Training 2022 and doesn’t think that it will cause any disruptions to Spring Training beginning on time.
That’s all fine and good, except for one major issue; two, actually:
- MLB pitchers and catchers are due to report for Spring Training 2022 the week of February 14 (although most show up a week earlier).
- The first Dodgers Spring Training game is scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2022, against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, with their Spring Training home opener against the San Diego Padres the following day at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.
Do you see the problem here?
Although anything is possible, it is hard to imagine that MLB and the MLBPA will negotiate and agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement quickly. In fact, history has shown that the process can take days.
…or weeks.
(Image courtesy of Marriott)
Realistically, it is safe to assume that many (most) Major Leaguers (and Minor Leaguers with invitations to Major League camp) will show up on schedule – or before – so that they will be ready to ‘play ball‘ the instant a new CBA is in place. That being said, a shortened Spring Training could lead to a delay in the 2022 regular season beginning on time; not to mention an increase in early-season injuries.
I’m not trying to be negative here, but a leisurely attitude/approach about this does not bode well for either side.
…or for fans.
It is time to get this done, gentlemen.
Play Ball!
Please?
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Posted in 
it’s hard to take sides between the billionaires and millionaires but it’s easy to see unadulterated greed.
i dont understand how the union can demand kids get brought up sooner AND get better deals to the “middle-class free agents” as max calls them. there are a finite number of jobs. how can they force in younger players without forcing out older ones? as i see it, the new and improved grand bargain will only result in pushing the avg age of the middle class even lower. remember when 20 year careers and 40 year old players were almost the standard? now they are an oddity. the elite will continue to get career contracts but the middle class will continue to shrink and the younger players will get less and less time to prove themselves.
these guys want to raise the bottom without merit while continuing to demand merit be used as a measuring stick for the top. collective? what’s collective about that?
as for the owners, they, like Mcdonalds now paying $15/hr to push a button with the picture of a cup on it, will not absorb the increased costs, they will pass them on to the consumer. through tv and mlb broadcast fees, increased ticket prices and stadium goods.
the only real losers in these negotiations are the fans.