“It’s Possible” – MLB Insider Suggests Deal To End Lockout Is ‘Within Striking Distance’

The MLB lockout has entered its 87th day and with the parties still negotiating hard, it seems an agreement is still some ways away. MLB insider, John Heyman, however, had another account. He recently shared that agreement might not be as far as some think it to be.

However, the relayed information was almost immediately rebutted by a player on the representatives for the MLB Players Association; and it appears some sort of agreement is still yet to come by.

The MLB has been in a lockout since early December 2021; and while the points of disagreement remain far apart, so too is there a scope for negotiation. However, the current conversation between the players and the league revolves around key economic concerns and has yielded very little productive conversation so far.

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Heyman, however, indicated that he was hopeful that conversation would happen and that an agreement was ‘possible’. This relief however did not last for long.

Heyman speaks out about the possible resolution

Heyman, too, admitted that maybe the outlook he shared was one that was particularly optimistic and not everyone in the room was of the same view. However, Heyman punctuated his statement by saying that it seemed as though an agreement was possible. But whether realistically doable or not remained a question.

The negotiation talks may have garnered some fresh pace because of the limits stated by the league previously. The deadline seems to be February 28th for a regular season, with all games going ahead as before, and a 162-game season proceeding as planned.

However, any delays beyond that date would cause a reduced game season with no compensation for players; and with no rescheduled games to go with that, either.

Expectations from the negotiations

The conversation started when Heyman said that the two parties can be described as being “within striking distance” of each other; indicating that a deal could be completed as soon as Monday night. Evidently, the luxury tax could’ve been an issue, but the proposed parameters were acceptable according to Heyman and his source.

Almost immediately, though, Zack Britton came out to correct Heyman. The relief pitcher for the New York Yankees and one of the representatives for the Player’s Association rebutted Heyman’s statements almost straight from the horse’s mouth. Britton is a part of the contingent representing the players’ association and in the negotiation room himself and seems to think differently.

The negotiations seem to catch pace and enter the 11th hour with no real determination on any of the core economic issues. And while neither side attempts to be backing down, it is the viewers that stand to lose games.

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But what do you think? Who seems to do more to get to a resolution?