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MLB official critical of MLBPA offer

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MLB officials have again been unable to broker a deal and lock in a start date for the new season.
Camera IconMLB officials have again been unable to broker a deal and lock in a start date for the new season. Credit: AP

Major League Baseball has reacted angrily to the latest offer by locked-out players when bargaining resumed on Sunday, accusing the union of backtracking and showing no sign of a breakthrough to get the derailed season back on track.

The players association submitted a proposal on Sunday that Glen Caplin, a special assistant in baseball operations, harshly criticised after the 90-minute session.

"We were hoping to see some movement in our direction to give us additional flexibility and get a deal done quickly," Caplin said in a statement.

"The players association chose to come back to us with a proposal that was worse than Monday night and was not designed to move the process forward.

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"On some issues, they even went backwards.

"Simply put, we are deadlocked. We will try to figure out how to respond, but nothing in this proposal makes it easy."

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Talks broke off on Tuesday after nine days of negotiations in Florida, and as a result commissioner Rob Manfred announced the cancellation of the first two series of the season for each team, a total of 91 games.

Another week's worth of games could be cancelled in the coming days if their is no resolution.

This was the first meeting since then, coming in the first season delayed by labour strife since 1995.

According to The Athletic, the MLBPA's latest offer called for a pre-arbitration pool of $80 million ($A108m), down $5 million from their previous offer. MLB is offering $30 million.

The offer also grants MLB the ability to make three on-field changes with 45 days' notice beginning with the 2023 season: a pitch clock, larger bases and shift restriction. Previously, MLB needed to give one year's notice.

MLB also would like to implement an automated strike zone for 2023 with 45 days' notice but the MLBPA didn't include that in the latest offer.

MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem and MLBPA negotiator Bruce Meyer held a one-on-one meeting after the session.

It isn't yet known when the next negotiating session will be held.

with AP

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