NORTH PORT, Fla. — The World Series pennant raising ceremony for the Atlanta Braves will have to wait longer.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred canceled more games Wednesday after the league and MLB Players Association did not agree to a new collective-bargaining agreement.

The move by Manfred canceled at least seven home games for the Braves against Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals in April.

Atlanta will now open their season on the road in San Diego and Los Angeles. Braves fans won’t see a home opener until more than a week later on April 22 against the Miami Marlins.

Manfred released the following statement Wednesday evening.

“In a last-ditch effort to preserve a 162-game season, this week we have made good-faith proposals that address the specific concerns voiced by the MLBPA and would have allowed the players to return to the field immediately. The Clubs went to extraordinary lengths to meet the substantial demands of the MLBPA. On the key economic issues that have posed stumbling blocks, the Clubs proposed ways to bridge gaps to preserve a full schedule. Regrettably, after our second late-night bargaining session in a week, we remain without a deal.

Because of the logistical realities of the calendar, another two series are being removed from the schedule, meaning that Opening Day is postponed until April 14th. We worked hard to reach an agreement and offered a fair deal with significant improvements for the players and our fans. I am saddened by this situation’s continued impact on our game and all those who are a part of it, especially our loyal fans.

We have the utmost respect for our players and hope they will ultimately choose to accept the fair agreement they have been offered.”

—  Rob Manfred

TRENDING STORIES:

There were multiple reports Tuesday night and early Wednesday that both sides were getting closer to ending the nearly 100-day lockout.

The league self-imposed a deadline of Tuesday night as a cutoff date to not cancel more games.

The owners then agreed after a late night negotiating session on Tuesday to meet early Wednesday with players which led to the glimmer of hope.

But those talks, fueled this time by the disagreement on an international draft, ended Wednesday night without a deal.

For the Braves, the lockout means they still can’t negotiate with free agent 1B Freddie Freeman and still can’t check on the rehabilitation of injured stars like Ronald Acuña, Jr. and Charlie Morton.

It also means the businesses at the Battery, which surrounds Truist Park, will have to wait for their annual influx of spring time fans ready for some baseball.

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