Considering how far apart both sides are after offering up their latest rounds of respective proposals, there’s certainly not much time left to reach an agreement if there will be some semblance of an MLB season in 2020.
Last weekend, the players’ union finally countered with a plan of their own, which was light years away from ownership’s previous offering. Details of the players’ proposal included a 114-game regular season that would run through late October, an opt-out clause that would allow any player to sit out the season, and a potential deferral of 2020 salaries if the postseason was canceled.
Needless to say, that deal was scorned by MLB owners. On Monday, it was reported that ownership is toying with the concept of a 50-game season, going in the complete opposite direction of their once proposed 82-game campaign.
The owners are claiming that they need the players to take an additional pay cut, or else they would lose more money by playing those games instead of cancelling them completely. This theory backs sentiments by the owners which we highlighted on Sunday, when Buster Olney of ESPN stated that “there is a group of owners perfectly willing to shut down the season and to slash payroll costs and reduce losses.”
Perhaps one disparity is the idea that the players’ association is assuming that by playing more games, the owners make more money. However, ownership is saying that theory is not necessarily the case, because there will likely be a number of games played without fans in the stands, who are the driving force of MLB revenues. Therefore, there are a high number of owners who believe that playing fewer games means losing fewer dollars.
If there’s any consolation, the idea that both sides are willing to negotiate offers at least a little promise. Nevertheless, the fact that they are moving farther apart in some areas suggests cause for pessimism.
In his column on Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN wrote about how put themselves at greater risk for long-term injury or contraction of the coronavirus during what would be a small portion of a typical season. Additionally, Rogers also mentioned how such a shortened season could affect the salaries of players into the future, as teams and players would have to weigh such a small sample of statistics and/or progressions in future contract talks.
Either way, the clock continues to tick.
The 50-game season proposal by the owners has not officially been sent to the union as of Tuesday afternoon.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
I guess that’s why they call it hard ball the owners have planted their feet in the ground. It’s a business and the fans finish last
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To hell with both sides, I am tired of the BS
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That’s pretty much how I feel writing about it.
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Easy to understand Dennis. I got a Keibert Ruiz Drillers card and one of Kendall with the Quakes. Found a Uribe Dodger card. I was surprised I did not have one of Jose.
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Round and round,going nowhere.
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Got that right. I am done with them
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If they don’t get a deal done because of money then fan backlash will be huge. I won’t go to any games next year. Losing interest already!
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If they don’t get a deal done here there may not be any games next year either. There will be such animosity between the two sides that they may have to re-negotiate the CBA a year early or skip 2021 also.
Tony Clark is in way over his head and Manfred is just a spokesperson for the owners. If they can’t come to an agreement, maybe they both need to be replaced.
Baseball needs a new structure where the commissioner is a neutral party, not a mouthpiece for the owners. Let Manfred be the negotiator for the owners if they want but install a neutral commissioner.
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Jeff, is there any commissioner in sports that doesn’t represent the owners?
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Perhaps s a neutral dentist as commish! I’m available
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I think you’d be perfect Rich. Getting these guys to agree on anything is like pulling teeth.
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The biggest problem with the current state of baseball, is the same thing we experience almost everywhere. It’s the lack of true leadership. People who are not afraid to make a decision, even if it’s not popular. Leading is tough, just like doing the right thing. I could go on … not necessary. I loved Joe Torre. We didn’t always agree, but he knew how to lead.
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Nostler pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes with a fantasy trade of McKinstry to the Pirates for 2 players yesterday. All of us so hungry for real baseball news that we fell for it, and forgot there is a freeze on all transactions involving the 40 man roster. As to the negotiations, neither side at this point are being flexible. Both have agenda’s. The players under contract want as much of their contracts as they can get, Owners, without any visible means of revenue except maybe their TV contracts are balking. And the fans are caught in the middle again. I do not see an easy solution. And I see animosity by both sides when the next CBA is negotiated..meanwhile, Basketball and football are getting ready to go. Baseball needs to take stock of where they stand with their fan base,
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Former Dodger, Carl Crawford arrested in Texas on a domestic battery charge, stemming from an incident that took place in May. Supposedly this has nothing to do with the drownings at his house last month.
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I never had a good feeling about that dude. 🙁
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I think what dissapointed me the most about Crawford, was how good he was when he was healthy. If that guy could have stayed on the field during his stint with the team, he would have been a huge asset. Beckett had a couple of moments, and Gonzalez was as Vinny put it, the butter and egg man. But the most fun to watch was Punto. The Shredder. That guy was a blast. And I remember Danny DiVito wearing his jersey to the games.
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Owners proposing a 48 or 54 game season with sliding salary’s. I think the players will tell them to stick it. And they should. Not even worth playing. If not at least 100 games, or even 90, it is a worthless enterprise. And oh are the CBA negotiations going to be something else. The game as I see it is in HUGE trouble.
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