Sports · Baseball · 7 hrs ago
Pedro Martinez urges MLB and players to avoid a lockout
Pedro Martinez urged MLB owners and players to reach a deal and avoid a lockout that could stop baseball.
He made the appeal in Boston at a gala for his foundation.
MLB's labor agreement expires on Dec.
1, and negotiations are taking place over the rules that will govern the league.
Owners want to introduce a salary cap, while the players' union opposes discussing one.
The owners' latest offer would delay a cap until 2028.
Martinez remembers the damage of the 1994 strike, which ended the season while his Montreal Expos had the best record in baseball.
The stoppage also delayed his chance to qualify for salary arbitration, which could have helped him earn more.
He says fans should not pay the price for the sides' failure to agree.
Pedro Martinez urged Major League Baseball owners and players to reach an agreement and avoid a lockout.
He said fans should not be mistreated and recalled the impact of the 1994 baseball stoppage on his career.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1.
MLB owners are seeking a salary cap, while the players’ union opposes discussing one during negotiations.
The owners’ latest offer would delay a salary cap until 2028.
- Who
- Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez urged MLB owners and players to reach an agreement.
- What
- Martinez appealed to both sides to avoid a lockout. The dispute includes owners’ efforts to establish a salary cap, which the players’ union opposes.
- When
- Martinez spoke on Saturday. The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1.
- Where
- Martinez was in Boston for the Pedro Martinez Foundation’s 10th annual gala.
- Why
- He said fans should not be mistreated and drew on his experience of the 1994 strike.
MLB owners
Players’ union
Salary cap
MLB owners
Owners are trying to put a salary cap in place; their latest offer would delay its implementation until 2028.
Players’ union
The union has remained steadfast against any talks of a salary cap during negotiations.
A strike stopped play during Martinez’s first season with the Montreal Expos, who had a 74-40 record.
MLB owners made an offer that would delay the implementation of a salary cap until 2028.
Martinez spoke in Boston at his foundation’s 10th annual gala and urged both sides to avoid a lockout.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires.
- Latest owners’ offer
- Would delay implementation of a salary cap until 2028
- Players’ union position
- Opposes any talks of a salary cap during negotiations
- Agreement expiry
- Dec. 1
- Martinez’s 1994 team
- Montreal Expos, 74-40 record when play stopped
- Foundation event
- 10th annual gala in Boston
What people are saying
Please, for the fans, both sides, figure it out, a good way to get it done, and do not lock out baseball
I feel for the fans, and I know when it's good, and it's good, baseball is good right now
On both sides, not the PA, not the owners, not baseball. The fans do not deserve to be mistreated.