Major League Baseball and the MLBA are inching close to an agreement that would allow for a 2020 MLB season, one which will include full prorated pay expanded playoffs, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The pending agreement would have the union agree to waive any grievance against the league, something they planned to do if the season was reduced to a mere 45-50 games as a failsafe.
While there's no agreement set in stone just yet, there's a concrete proposal on the table that could push this over the finish line:
Source: MLB proposal includes:
•60 games in 70 days
•Season starting July 19th/20th
•Full Prorated Salary
•Expanded Playoffs in 2020 and 2021
•Waiving of any potential grievance— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 17, 2020
According to Heyman, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA chief Tony Clark had what they deemed as a productive face-to-face meeting in Arizona, one the commissioner requested after the fallout of an ESPN two-hour special named “The Return of Sports.”
During his appearance on the panel, Manfred was seen backtracking on an earlier promise that owners were “100% committed” to having a baseball season after three league proposals were vehemently shut down by the MLBPA.
The MLBPA accused the league of repackaging their same proposal in different ways and not negotiating in good faith, as they stuck to their guns in requesting a full prorated pay for whatever number of games the league could muster.
The MLBPA started with a 114-game plan, but incrementally reduced the number of games as long as they would be paid pro rata — contingent to a March agreement.
While there was a belief that a sweet spot would be between 70-75 games for the 2020 season, the union did not send a counterproposal after the league sent its last pitch, setting off a stalemate.
The union threatened to file a grievance against the league after some tired back-and-forth. Yet if this latest agreement goes through, both parties will be working in concert again and no grievance will be necessary,
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