What We Know About The MLB Canceled Games
The Major League Baseball 2022 Season’s opening day and the first two series were canceled. The unfortunate decision was due to the ongoing lockout, with owners and players unable to concur on a new labor agreement.
The cancellation of the first two series means that no team will have played a game at home yet. It’s only the second time in MLB history that games have been canceled due to labor issues. The first time was in 1994, which led to the cancellation of that year’s World Series.
So what happens now, and what’s next for the 2022 MLB Season? Here’s what we know so far.
The Problem
Well, there are a lot of issues surrounding the league this season, such as the process of curbing MLB’s service time rules for rookie players and the playoffs. However, among the issues of disagreement were the luxury tax system, the new bonus pool for underqualified young players, and the minimum salaries.
The Number of Missed Games
Note that a baseball series is usually between 2-4 games. Take the defending champion Atlanta Braves, for instance. Due to Rob Manfred’s announcement to cancel the opening day and the first two series, the Braves’ games from March 31 to April 5 were removed from the original schedule.
And those games were supposed to be a four-game series 2022 season-opening against the Miami Marlins. Plus, a two-game series against the New York Mets. An estimated more or less 150 games across the league were canceled.
As the dispute drags on, the number of canceled regular-season games will continue to increase.
The Players and Owners Worth Each Game
The MLB players’ salaries are for the public to see or know. However, the revenues of the owners aren’t. But the Atlanta Braves shared their financial status because they’re the only MLB team controlled by the U.S. and are a public traded company.
The Braves reported a profit of $104 million in 2021, and $6 million was the revenue per home game. Due to the canceled games, a lot of revenue may be lost. As for the players’ salaries, last season’s total was about $3.8 billion. And each canceled game would lead to at least a combined total of $20.5 million.
For Mets’ star pitcher, Max Scherzer, he would stand to lose about $233,000 for each canceled game. However, most MLB players make the minimum salary which is $570,500. In the ongoing discussions, the players asked for more significant annual increases and a minimum salary of $725,000, while the owners called for $700,000.
Who Can Withstand More Loss?
The owners can surely withstand a loss because they’re billionaires and have more access to credit and resources than the MLB players. According to Rob Manfred, the past MLB seasons were challenging for the industry, given the COVID-19 pandemic.
He continued that in October 2020, where 30 clubs had racked up $8.3 billion of debt from different lenders. And last year, the total debt rose to $9 billion. However, MLB players have benefited from a war chest, helping them overcome a work stoppage.
In three years, the total assets went from $90 million to $192 million, according to federal filings by the union. Also, the medical benefits restart every April 1 of each year. This year, to cover the medical care of the players, the union will use its reserves.
What Have the Players Been Up to?
According to sources, since the MLB players weren’t allowed to enter team facilities because of the lockout, they’ve been keeping themselves busy. The players have been training, hitting, and throwing on their own.
But most players train at private facilities and will continue to do so until the start of spring training. Moreover, in the off-season, many players stay and reside in Arizona. Because of that, the union has built a staffed facility and stadium in Mesa, Arizona, for MLB players who need a place to train.
So, when the games begin, the players are more than ready to do what they do best: play baseball. Check out the top MLB picks today to learn more.
Will Talks Resume?
Both sides are legally required to agree in good faith. Hence, they’ll keep on talking until the issues get resolved. While there’s no deadline or time limit for an agreement, neither side is ready to stop discussing the matters. As a result, the MLB lockout stretches, and more games get canceled. Let’s hope that both sides reach an agreement and that the 162-regular game season is still on the table.
Bottomline
It’s sad news for baseball fans that the MLB games are canceled due to labor disputes. While we can expect both sides to return to the bargaining table soon, it’s still a bummer that we won’t be able to watch our favorite teams play. We can only hope that the MLB players and owners can agree soon so we can all enjoy one of the best sports in the world.
