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A16 sports
Wednesday 2 March 2022
Union rejects MLB's last offer at deadline to cancel games

By RONALD BLUM reach an agreement that
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Play- would allow the minimum
ers have rejected Major time needed for spring
League Baseball's "best training in order to play
and final offer" to end the openers as scheduled on
sport's lockout before the March 31.
league's deadline to avoid The union said it didn't nec-
canceled games. essarily agree to the time-
MLB made its last offer frame.
about 90 minutes before a The sides agreed Monday,
self-imposed 5 p.m. dead- subject to an overall deal,
line Tuesday. The league to expand the postseason
has threatened to cancel from 10 to 12 teams, rather
opening day on March 31 than the 14 MLB had hoped
without a deal by then. for.
Commissioner Rob Man- The union believed there
fred was expected to was an understanding
speak around 5 p.m. about on luxury tax rates, which
the situation. management had been
The union convened a call proposing to substantially
of its player representatives steepen while eliminating
after receiving MLB's offer. higher penalties for recidi-
Players have repeatedly vist high spenders.
cautioned that significant Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred outside Roger Dean Stadium on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Players' latest proposals
differences remained in key Jupiter, Fla., after a labor negotiating session with baseball players. contemplated giving up
economic areas, and MLB's Associated Press on expanding salary arbi-
proposal did not close that tration from the top 22% to
gap in their eyes. $256 million in 2025 and sumer Price Index for Urban make us a CBT proposal 35% by service time of the
Baseball is now on the $263 in 2026. Wage Earners. (competitive balance tax) players with at least two
precipice of losing regular — MLB increased its offer — MLB offered to have the last night, so we agreed to seasons of service and less
season games to a work for a new bonus pool for five top picks in the ama- extend the deadline to ex- than three, but only if MLB
stoppage for the first time pre-arbitration players from teur draft determined by a haust every option. agreed to other union pro-
since 1995. $25 million to $30 million, lottery. "The MLBPA had a decid- posals.
The sides made progress and the union dropped — MLB would expand the edly different tone today Players would lose $20.5
during 16 1/2 hours of bar- from $115 million to $85 mil- postseason to 12 teams, and made proposals in- million in salary for each
gaining Monday, then ex- lion for this year, with $5 mil- the figure the union prefers consistent with the prior dis- day of the season that is
changed new offers Tues- lion yearly increases. to management's original cussions. We will be making canceled, according to
day. — MLB proposed raising request for 14. our best offer before the 5 a study by The Associated
— MLB proposed raising the minimum salary from "We thought there was a p.m. deadline." Press, and the 30 teams
the luxury tax threshold $570,500 to $700,000 this path to a deal last night Mets star pitcher Max would lose large sums that
from $210 million to $220 year, up from its previous of- and that both sides were Scherzer and free-agent are harder to pin down.
million in each of the next fer of $675,000, and includ- closing in on the major is- reliever Andrew Miller were Spring training games were
three seasons, $224 million ed increases of $10,000 an- sues," an MLB official said present for talks, the ninth to have begun Saturday,
in 2025 and $230 in 2026 — nually. The union asked for before the last offer was straight day of bargaining but baseball's ninth work
unchanged from its prior $725,000 this year, $745,000 transmitted to the union, and the 90th day of the stoppage — and first since
offer. Players asked for $238 in 2023, $765,000 in 2024 speaking on the condi- lockout. 1995 — already has led to
million this year, $244 million and increases for 2025 and tion he not be identified Manfred had said Monday exhibitions being canceled
in 2023, $250 million in 2024, 2026 based on the Con- by name. "They couldn't was the last possible day to through March 7.q

Fury gets confidence by Whyte no-show ahead of title fight

Whyte didn't turn up to the eyes and think, 'I'm getting titled to 20% of the $41 mil-
first press conference to smashed to bits.' lion purse, making it his ca-
publicize the fight on Tues- "It's fear, it's terror, I don't reer-high payday.
day, with Fury's U.K. promot- blame him for not being Whyte only signed the con-
er, Frank Warren, claiming here today … The buildup tract for the fight at the last
the challenger demanded to the fight will be fantastic minute, with Warren saying
and then turned down the because Tyson Fury versus Whyte had sought to rene-
offer of a private jet to fly his own shadow sells." gotiate terms.
him over from his Portugal Warren said he expects "Champions bank on them-
base. just under 100,000 fans will selves to win. That's what
Fury said Whyte's no-show be at one of the biggest they do to become the
"has given me that much heavyweight bouts to be king — you win the title,
more confidence." held in Britain. you get the money," War-
Associated Press "He's definitely shown the It marks Fury's return to Brit- ren said.
fight flag in this fight, the ain after five successive "It's just not right. We are
LONDON (AP) — Round Whyte at Wembley Stadi- way he's going on about fights in the United States, where we are but Dillian
one to Tyson Fury? um might not be until April not going face to face," including a trilogy against Whyte is in Portugal. He
The WBC heavyweight 23 but Fury believes he has Fury said at Wembley. "Of Deontay Wilder. should be here. It's dis-
champion's all-British title got the upper hand al- course he doesn't. Be- As for Whyte, it's his first graceful that he's not here,
defense against Dillian ready. cause he'll see the fire in my world title fight. He's en- it's not professional."q