Major League Baseball has not yet started its 2020 regular season, and at this point, it doesn’t appear that the season will happen. Major League Baseball owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association have been unable to agree to terms, and it looks like the 2020 season is in real danger.
The two sides have not been able to agree on terms of the length of the 2020 regular season, and pay has been a major point of contention as well. The two sides have been offering up different proposals over the last few weeks, but it appears that negotiations have reached a conclusion.
The players appear to be ready to play in 2020, but that sentiment hasn’t set well with the owners. Most owners appear ready to give up the entire 2020 season to save on revenue. Other professional leagues are set to return to play later this year, but it doesn’t look like Major League Baseball will ever get started.
MLB Won’t Counter Latest Offer From MLBPA
The Major League Baseball Players Association recently offered up a proposal to the owners of the league that includes 70 regular-season games. This was the lowest amount of games offered up by the Players Association, and it was clear that players just want to return to the field.
Major League Baseball was still not in favor of the most recent offer from the MLBPA, and they announced that they would not propose a counter offer. The league is content with playing just 60 regular-season games, but they are offering to pay players their full prorated salaries for the 2020 regular season.
The Major League executive board was set to meet this weekend, and they will be discussing whether or not they want to vote on the latest offer from the players. Owners and other team executives have not wanted to offer full prorated salaries, but they are starting to concede that to the players in exchange for fewer games in 2020.
Since MLB is not expected to counter the offer from the players, the final decision will likely be up to the players and the player’s association. The league has wanted to put the onus on the players, but Major League Baseball has also been hit hard by criticism on social media.
Major League Baseball has been shut down since early March, and the league was unable to even begin its 2020 regular season. The league was hoping to be playing by Fourth of July weekend, but that seems unlikely at this point.
Owners did not want to pay players more than the prorated salary agreement that was signed in March, and they are also hoping for a lower number of games. Players continue to push for more regular-season games, but getting paid their full prorated salaries is the biggest negotiating chip for the players.
MLBPA Cuts Meeting Short
The Major League Baseball Players Association was set to meet on Sunday, and a vote was expected to take place. Players were expected to vote on the 60-game proposal offered by the league over the weekend, but the vote never took place.
Sources have indicated that the vote never took place on Sunday after several new changes were submitted to the players from commissioner Rob Manfred. The league was apparently looking to cancel the expanded playoff proposal and the universal designated hitter as a part of the proposal.
There is still a chance that the players will agree to a deal from the league, but time is running out. Players have insisted that they just want to get back on the field, but the two sides remain far apart on any deals.
