Elephant Rumblings: Deadline day for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

Today is the day that the MLB set as the deadline to reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the players union before the league starts cancelling games. Meetings are scheduled for today, the eighth consecutive day on which the MLB and MLBPA have held face-to-face negotiations to end the owner-imposed lockout.

Yesterday’s meetings were “productive” according to a league official, but publicly available details of the negotiations are scant, and apparently no formal proposals were exchanged. However, some ideas were reportedly bandied about, including a “ghost win” 12-team playoff and eliminating the qualifying offer in exchange for a modest increase in the luxury tax threshold.

During the first meeting on Saturday, the players association offered a new, “comprehensive” proposal. Included in the offer are a substantial lowering of “Super Two” arbitration eligibility from 75 to 35 percent of players in the 2-3 service year category. The players also reduced their demand to cut revenue-sharing funds altogether, save for some local revenue growth incentives. Much smaller concessions were made by the union on the competitive balance tax: the players offered to reduce the previously demanded tax thresholds by $2 million in the second through fourth years of a new agreement.

The proposal was poorly received by MLB and negotiations took a hostile turn as the second meeting of the day commenced. Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported that the players were furious and considered walking away from the bargaining table. It does seem that the players offered some bigger concessions on Saturday and got the finger in return. None of this bodes well for getting a deal done today. Pray for a miracle?

A’s Coverage:

• Nico: Not A Regular Season Game Canceled Yet, But Damage Is Already Done
• Hall: MLB lockout: A’s might receive revenue sharing again?
• Polishuk: MLB Looking To Move Athletics Back To Revenue-sharing Recipient Status
• Kawahara, Slusser: ‘Man-made disaster’: Arizona spring-training cities, fans feel brunt of MLB lockout ($)
• Gallegos: Top 10 highlights of Dennis Ecklersley’s career
• Pollshuk: Nationals Sign Jordan Weems To Minor League Contract

MLB News & Interest:

• Drellich: Opening Day never had a chance ($)
• Rosenthal: Rob Manfred on course to fulfill his own doomsday prophesy for baseball ($)
• The Athletic: MLB disapproves of players’ package offer as deadline to start regular season on time looms: Source ($)
• Polishuk: Owners, Players Meet For Extended Negotiating Session; More Talks Planned For Monday
• Polishuk: Latest CBA Talks Lead To “Hostile” Meeting Between Players, Owners
• Posnanski: Satchel Paige’s AL debut was pitching magic
• Monagan: Doc Gooden’s 1983 Minor League season was ridiculous
• Today in Baseball History

Best of Twitter:

#BlackHistoryMonth ends on a Blue note.

#BlackHistoryMonth: Billy Williams inducted to the HOF with Catfish.

I know Joe, but this tweet inspired an impromptu stat dive wherein I learned that the outfielder for the dynastic A’s of the seventies finished second in AL MVP voting—twice!

Dick Allen, swingin’ with swagger.

Ports callin’!