Breaking: MLB and players union are closing in on an agreement to play the 2020 season, via players. Deal expected to be for prorated pay and include expanded playoffs.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
Just a couple of days after Rob Manfred showed his duplicity, it looks like we will have Major League Baseball in 2020 after all.
More details to come on the amount of games to be played, but it’s evident that the players will get what they’ve been owed since the initial March agreement: full prorated pay. Meanwhile, the owners get the benefit of expanded playoff revenue.
Of course, the big mystery is how baseball will be played amidst a global pandemic. Frankly, there probably shouldn’t be any baseball or any sports this summer! Alas, an attempt will be made.
Again, more to come.
Update, 2:47pm: Here’s some cold water for ya:
Source says no deal is close yet between MLB and MLBPA beccause the proposal was just sent by MLB. No agreement even in principle at this point.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 17, 2020
Update, 3:02pm: The MLBPA has weighed in.
Reports of an agreement are false.
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 17, 2020
Update, 3:11pm: Here are the details of MLB’s offer:
Source: MLB proposal includes:
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 17, 2020
•60 games in 70 days
•Season starting July 19th/20th
•Full Prorated Salary
•Expanded Playoffs in 2020 and 2021
•Waiving of any potential grievance
Quick take: that’s not that great of an offer. There are 22 off days in a typical 162 game season. 10 in 70 days, while a nice reprieve for players in theory, leaves money on the table. And as Baseball Prospectus’s Craig Goldstein tweets, it’s essentially offering three more games worth of pay compared to the previous offer.
Update, 3:48pm: The commissioner has weighed in.
Coronaveddardus
There won’t be a deal, Derek, and we don’t want a deal. A 60 game season is a joke. It’s like a 6 game NFL season. Nothing can be gained from that garbage. It’s time to just pull the plug on the season. Baseball is already viewed as an old man’s game and hopefully a cancelled season puts the final nail in the coffin for the league. The fans deserve better than this.