Will the Phillies' home opener be saved? Stay tuned originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
There's still time to save the Phillies' home opener.
We'll find out Tuesday if that happens.
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Major League Baseball and the Players Association continued their hotly contested talks over a new labor agreement on Monday. According to multiple reports, some progress was made. The two sides will talk again on Tuesday. If an agreement can be struck, the regular season could open on April 8, the day the Phillies are slated to host the Oakland A's in their home opener at Citizens Bank Park.
If an agreement is not struck Tuesday, commissioner Rob Manfred is likely to cancel more regular-season games. Last week, negotiations broke down and Manfred "canceled" – his word -- the first two series of the regular season.
The word "canceled" apparently should not be taken literally. According to a report in the Athletic, Manfred is willing to make whole the 162-game season if the two sides can agree on a deal Tuesday. Games could be made up on off days as part of doubleheaders. Players want a 162-game season because it would allow them to be paid in full. Previously, Manfred had said the first two series of the season were canceled and players would not be paid for those games.
If the two sides can agree by the end of business Tuesday, spring training camps could open as soon as Friday. That would give teams the 28 days of preparation that Manfred has made a requirement for opening the season. Anything less, he has said, would heighten the risk of injury.
The two sides have made progress on a number of issues from minimum salary to expanded playoffs to a draft lottery to combat tanking. The two biggest hurdles remain the amount of a bonus pool for players in the zero to three years' service-time class who outperform their salaries and the competitive balance (luxury) tax threshold. The threshold was $210 million in 2021. Last week, owners proposed a move to $220 million, but that was still $18 million shy of what the players were seeking. Players view the luxury tax as a de facto salary cap. New reports suggest that owners are willing to increase their proposed $220 million threshold in an effort to get a deal done.
If it doesn't work, more games could be lopped off the schedule Tuesday -- including the Phillies' April 8 home opener.
