Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced that he was canceling clubs’ first two series of the season on Tuesday. MLB and the players’ association failed to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement by the 5 p.m. deadline set by Manfred.
The Orioles were scheduled to open the season at home on March 31st against the Toronto Blue Jays. After an offday on April 1st, they were scheduled to play the Blue Jays on April 2nd and 3rd. Their first road series, against the Boston Red Sox from April 4th-6th, also has been canceled.
Manfred said that the earliest the two sides could meet again would be on Thursday, possibly in New York.
They met for nine days at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, spring home to the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. There was thought that a deal was close when the sides met until 2:30 a.m on Tuesday and resumed later that morning, but no agreement was forthcoming.
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The earliest the Orioles could open the season is on April 8th when they’re scheduled to play a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida. The earliest possible home opener is on April 11th against Milwaukee.
Manfred said he wanted four weeks of spring training before regular-season play could begin.