Ten weeks have passed since Major League Baseball and the Players Association agreed to service time terms and prorated salaries for 2020, but the two sides have remained at odds over the economics of a regular season.
The MLBPA have remained adamant they receive full pro-rata pay this year, while the league has countered with various proposals that would entail players taking more of a salary cut. The latest of which came Monday, when the union rejected a plan that outlined 75% prorated salaries (only 50% guaranteed) and expanded playoffs, among other pitches.
They then countered — somewhat unexpectedly — by extending an offer to MLB that centered around an 89-game season, expanded playoffs for this year and next, and full prorated salaries. Unsurprisingly, MLB is expected to decline the proposal, per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports:
The Major League Baseball Players Association rejected MLB’s latest proposal on Tuesday and countered with an 89-game schedule — starting July 10 and ending Oct. 11 — that would pay players their full pro-rated salary, while also agreeing to an expanded postseason the next two seasons.
MLB is expected to swiftly reject the union’s proposal with the players refusing to accept a paycut from their pro-rated salaries.
As the calendar turned to June, there was optimism MLB and the Players Association could reach an agreement within the first week of the month, establish plans for Spring Training 2.0 and hold Opening Day on July 4.
That no longer is considered an option, and as more time passes, it increases the likelihood of MLB commissioner Rob Manfred imposing a truncated season of just 50 to 60 games but with full prorated salaries. Players could file a grievance in that case, but the sense is they nonetheless would play the year out.
However, if that is how MLB returns to the field, it would not allow for an expanded postseason field. That is considered a significant factor for the league, as the playoffs are when teams could recoup lost revenue.
Of course, that also ties into MLB’s insistence that the regular season conclude by Sept. 27. There are concerns over a second wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and that could impact the postseason.
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