Red Sox who could be affected if the lockout delays the 2022 season
We should be counting down the days until the Boston Red Sox report to Fort Myers but the timeline has been blurred by the current work stoppage. We’re over a month into Major League Baseball’s lockout and the sides haven’t shown any substantial progress in striking a new deal, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The report paints a pessimistic picture of the state of these negotiations. Both sides appear to be more concerned with winning the battle rather than finding a solution. Negotiations are about give and take. Ask for something you want while making concessions to the other side as you inch closer to an agreement. MLB and the Players’ Union have been wasting time shouting their demands while ignoring what the other side has to say.
While Passan outlines a path back to baseball, this stalemate won’t be resolved overnight. Spring Training should be right around the corner but the longer the lockout lingers, the chances increase for a delay in when players can report to camp. At this point, we can’t rule out Opening Day being pushed back. The worst case scenario of games being cancelled, resulting in another shortened season, remains an unfortunate possibility.
Any alteration to the schedule would be a frustrating outcome for everyone involved, especially the fans who are caught in the crossfire of this feud. Some would be affected more than others. There are a few Red Sox players who could potentially have their seasons derailed by a delayed start to camp or a shortened season.