After Major League Baseball made its return-to-play proposal that included an 82-game schedule and hefty pay cuts on top of prorated salaries, the MLBPA was utterly dismissive. Now, it’s the owners’ turn to dismiss the players’ proposal.
According to reports, the MLBPA’s counterproposal includes a slew of differences, including a 118-game regular-season schedule, full prorated salaries, and an agreement to expand the postseason field both this year and next.
One of the more interesting points of the players’ proposal is the caveat included in the case that the MLB isn’t able to play a postseason this year. In such an event, the MLBPA proposal states players are willing to defer $100 million in salary for players making $10 million or more in 2020.
The deferred salaries should help to calm ownership concerns regarding cash flow issues, yet not many expect the owners to jump at the MLBPA’s counterproposal. This larger consequence of the payment deferral point is that it opens up deferred payments for future proposals from the league.
If players are willing to be paid later, even though they want those deferred payments to include interest, the owners and players may be able to find some common ground moving forward.
However, the owners are expected to reject the players’ counterproposal and continue negotiations. Some are concerned that this latest return-to-play plan will help the small group of owners aiming to skip the 2020 season to recruit others to their side.
Another proposal from the MLB is expected later this week.
Details of Players Proposal
After fervently rejecting the owners’ plan for a return to baseball amid the coronavirus pandemic, the players were eager to propose a plan of their own.
The MLBPA’s counterproposal included:
- A 114-game season set to be played from June 30 to Oct. 31. Meanwhile, owners have suggested that they stand to lose more money from playing more games.
- Full prorated salaries for players, after agreeing to prorated salaries back in March. The owners have asked players to take further pay cuts, saying that language included in the March agreement included the potential for further salary adjustments if games would be played without fans.
- $100 million in deferred salary in the case of no postseason.
- The ability for players to opt out of the 2020 season without penalty.
- Expanded playoffs for two seasons, whereas the owners’ plan calls for expanded playoffs in the 2020 season only.
- A salary advance of $100 million for players to split during whatever preseason the sport is able to hold.
- An offer to help generate revenue by way of an All-Star Game or Home Run Derby.
- Additional commitment to players wearing microphones and other broadcast enhancements.
While the players are setting themselves up in a position to negotiate from, they’re also beginning to bridge the gap between the two sides. We’ll have to wait and see if the league’s next proposal will push the sport closer to an agreement.
Trout, Cole Among Favorites for Season Leader Awards
Should Major League Baseball have a season of at least 75 games in 2020, bettors will be able to cash in if they can correctly project the season leaders in the sport’s major categories.
To lead the league in home runs, Mike Trout leads all players with odds of +950. He’s trailed closely by Joey Gallo and Pete Alonso at +1000, then by the likes of Giancarlo Stanton (+1300), Aaron Judge (+1500), and Cody Bellinger (+1600).
To lead the league in strikeouts, new Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole is the favorite with odds of +210. Only three other players have odds better than +1200: Max Scherzer (+550), Jacob deGrom (+700), and Justin Verlander (+850).
To lead the league in hits, it’s a tight race between a slew of players includes Nolan Arenado (+1300), Whit Merrifield (+1300), DJ LeMahieu (+1400), Jose Altuve (+1500), Francisco Lindor (+1600), and Rafael Devers (+1600).
