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sports Thursday 10 March 2022
Union makes counteroffer

on 98th day of lockout

By RONALD BLUM national amateur draft.
AP Baseball Writer Teams would rotate pick-
NEW YORK (AP) — Negotia- ing in different quadrants of
tors for locked-out players the first round over a four-
made their latest coun- year period, and a slotting
teroffer to Major League system would be installed
Baseball on Wednesday af- similar to what the union
ter Commissioner Rob Man- agreed to starting in 2012
fred let pass his deadline to for the amateur draft cov-
reach a deal preserving a ering residents of the U.S.,
162-game season. Puerto Rico and Canada.
The sides negotiated on The international draft pro-
and off for 16 1/2 hours posal includes hard slots
until 3 a.m. Wednesday that could not be negoti-
morning, then broke for the ated by individuals. MLB
union to hold a morning estimates $17 million in ad-
conference call with its ex- ditional spending for the
ecutive board. drafted international play- Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference after
negotiations with the players’ association toward a labor deal, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Roger
Union chief negotiator ers above the $166.3 mil- Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.
Bruce Meyer and gen- lion spent by the 30 teams Associated Press
eral counsel Ian Penny in 2021, plus an additional
then walked three blocks $6 million on non-drafted Manfred originally set a no chance opening day tion of anonymity because
through a wintry mix of rain players. The draft would Feb. 28 deadline for pre- could take place as origi- no public statements were
and snow to deliver the start in 2024. serving opening day on nally scheduled, MLB told authorized, said manage-
proposal to MLB’s office, The union’s long steadfast March 31. After 16 1/2 hours the union that Tuesday ment’s proposal contained
then headed back to the opposition to an interna- of bargaining in Jupiter, was the last possible day to tougher penalties at a
union headquarters. tional draft remains an ob- Florida, that began Feb. reach an agreement that higher payroll level than in
On the 98th day of the stacle to an agreement, 28 and ended at 2:30 a.m. would allow a modified the expired agreement.
lockout, MLB said no ad- and MLB has tied it to drop- the following morning pro- 162-game schedule, along The union began the week
ditional games had been ping direct amateur draft- duced progress, Manfred with full salary and service at $238 million for this year,
canceled and talks will pick compensation for extended that deadline to time needed to reach free rising to $263 million in 2026.
continue. qualified free agents. 5 p.m. the following day. agency for players. The union entered Mon-
MLB made moves Tues- International players would Talks broke down, and MLB on Tuesday offered day asking for an $80 mil-
day toward players on the lose the right to pick which Manfred announced the a tax threshold starting at lion bonus pool for this year
key economic issues of the team they sign with. The first two series for each $230 million and rising to and MLB upped its offer on
luxury tax, the amount of age for the draft would be team during the season $242 million, a person famil- Tuesday from $30 million to
a new bonus pool for pre- in the year a player turns had been canceled. Ne- iar with the proposal said, $40 million. MLB offered a
arbitration-eligible players 16. gotiators returned to New confirming a move first re- $700,000 minimum salary
and minimum salaries. The The deadline Tuesday was York and resumed bargain- ported by The Athletic. The for this year and the union
league also pushed for its the third set by MLB in the ing on Sunday. person, speaking to The asked for $725,000.q
long-held goal of an inter- past two weeks. While it appears there is Associated Press on condi-

Brian Flores wants lawsuit against NFL heard in court

league alleging racist hiring secret and confidential, torneys, Quinn Emanuel Black coaches for racial
practices. it is a well-accepted fact and Paul Weiss, are trying reasons, denying them po-
Flores’ lawyer sent a letter that arbitration presents a to push the claims against sitions as head coaches,
to NFL Commissioner Roger barrier to justice for victims the Dolphins into secret offensive and defensive
Goodell on Wednesday, of discrimination and other arbitration proceedings coordinators and quarter-
urging him to turn down Mi- misconduct.” that lack transparency. backs coaches, as well as
ami’s request and have the Flores, hired as a senior de- There are currently ongo- general managers. Flores
case settled in court. fensive assistant for the Pitts- ing legislative efforts to also claims Miami offered
“Arbitration is not transpar- burgh Steelers last month, end forced arbitration for him $100,000 per loss dur-
ent,” attorney Douglas H. filed his lawsuit against the claims of race discrimina- ing his first season with the
Miami Dolphins head Wigdor wrote in his letter. NFL, Dolphins, New York Gi- tion, which I fully support. team in 2019 in an effort to
coach Brian Flores talks to “Indeed, arbitration is by its ants and Denver Broncos I would hope that the NFL receive a top draft pick.
the media before an NFL very nature a secretive pro- following his dismissal by and Dolphins would also The NFL has maintained the
football practice at Baptist cess that takes place be- Miami. Flores led the Dol- support those efforts. Com- lawsuit is “without merit,”
Health Training Complex in
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami hind closed doors and out- phins to consecutive win- missioner Goodell now has although Goodell said be-
Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, side of the public eye. The ning seasons before he was a choice to make. Will he fore the Super Bowl that “all
Oct. 6, 2021. lack of transparency in ar- fired in January. allow this case and future of the allegations, whether
Associated Press bitration only serves to con- “The claims that we filed race discrimination claims they were based on rac-
By The Associated Press tinue the status quo—which involve important issues of to play out in a transparent ism or discrimination or the
Brian Flores wants the NFL in this case, is one that you systemic race discrimina- and public legal process, or integrity of our game, all of
to reject the Miami Dol- have conceded must be tion and the integrity of NFL continue along the same those to me were very dis-
phins’ request for an ar- fairly evaluated and po- football games,” Flores said unacceptable path?” turbing.”
bitration hearing regard- tentially overhauled. That in a statement provided by Flores’ lawsuit alleges the The Dolphins requested
ing his class-action lawsuit cannot happen in arbitra- his lawyer. “Unfortunately, league has discriminated the arbitration hearing last
against the team and the tion. In addition to being the Dolphins and their at- against him and other month.q