*Photo from Yanks Go Yard*
As the lockout between the MLB and the MLBPA reaches it's second month, there is frustration growing on the side of the players. Players have been confused at the lack of communication between both sides, as there have been virtually no negotiations that have taken place since the lockout began.
MLBPA player subcommittee member and New York Yankees reliever Zack Britton said "You can't negotiate against yourself, nobody would do that in the business world, right, if you're negotiating something. So I think the more communication that we have, I think that's the path to a deal, right? And you can't control what the other side does or chooses not to do. So we're prepared. We were available Christmas Day to negotiate. We know how important this is."
Fellow subcommittee member and Texas Rangers infielder Marcus Semien added on, saying that "The league did not have to lock us out. We could have continued to negotiate during this time, actually, regardless of the deadline or not. And we asked them to do that, and obviously, the lockout happened."
After the previous CBA between the owners and players expired at 11:59 PM on December 1, the owners voted moments later to institute a lockout on the players. Teams are unable to communicate with players on big league 40 man rosters, and all major league transactions are halted during the lockout. League business could have continued with no CBA, if the owners did not lock out the players.
In meetings with the owners prior to the lockout taking effect, the MLBPA had offered multiple proposals for a new CBA, including changes to free agency and details that would end service time manipulation and increase leaguewide competitiveness, all of which were rejected by the owners. They did not make a counter offer.
While the players still believe a deal will be agreed to prior to the start of spring training in February, Semien said that January would be a big month for negotiations, with spring training getting closer.
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