GOODYEAR, Ariz. – On Tuesday afternoon, while MLB owners and the MLB Players Association were trying to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, the Reds had their largest number of front office personnel in Goodyear, Arizona, so far this year at minor league spring training.
Reds owner Bob Castellini and the majority of the Reds front office were at the spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona. Castellini watched minor league spring training for the first time this year, and he joined general manager Nick Krall and several other key front office members in Goodyear.
On the minor league fields, they watched pitching prospect Nick Lodolo throw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Right as MLB announced its decision to cancel the first two series of the regular season, they watched outfield prospect Rece Hinds single to right field.
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There was a quiet reaction, one member of the front office murmured, “no deal,” and several front office personnel left the stands shortly after.
Since MLB’s owners and the MLB Players Association did not agree to a new collective bargaining agreement, the Cincinnati Reds won’t host Opening Day at the Findlay Market Parade March 31. The first two series of the regular season have been canceled, and it’s possible that even more games will be lost.
For the last two days, MLB Network has played on the television in the weight room, and prospects have gathered to catch up with the negotiations. The Reds have 14 players at minor league spring training who have MLB experience, and those non-roster invitees signed with the Reds hoping for a shot to make the Opening Day roster.
While those players will continue to work out in Goodyear, that possibility doesn’t currently exist.
The MLB owners said Tuesday was the deadline to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement with enough time for the season to start when scheduled on March 31. MLB says there needs to be at least four weeks of spring training leading up to the season to prevent player injuries, and the two sides ran out of time.
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MLB and the MLBPA met in Florida this week, negotiating issues including the minimum salary, arbitration, the competitive balance tax and expanded playoffs. Those talks continued until Tuesday’s deadline, but MLB and the MLBPA did not reach an agreement as the owner’s lockout continues.
Minor league spring training will continue for players who aren’t on the Reds 40-man roster and non-roster invitees. The Minor League season is still scheduled to begin in the first week of April. But there is no scheduled date for the Reds' regular season to start.
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