After months of battling for an agreement between the two parties, the Major League Baseball Players Association finalized a new proposal to MLB for a 70-game season, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan.
The Major League Baseball Players Association has finalized a proposal to MLB for a season in the neighborhood of 70 games, sources tell me and @JesseRogersESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 18, 2020
Among the details in MLBPA’s new proposal, sources tell ESPN:
– 70-game season from July 19-Sept. 30
– $50M in playoff bonuses
– 50/50 split of new postseason TV revenues in 2021
– Forgiveness of salary advance for Tier I-III players
– Universal DH
– Mutual waiver of grievance— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 18, 2020
Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark met in Phoenix, Ariz., earlier this week four a four-hour meeting to negotiate a new deal between the two parties, with MLB initially believing that a deal was reached. However, players stated earlier this week that the initial 60-game proposal was too short, hence the MLBPA’s further push to finalize a new proposal to the league.
According to ESPN, MLBPA’s new proposal consists of:
- Full pro-rated pay
- 70-game season from July 19 through Sept. 30
- Spring training from June 26-28
- Expanded playoffs from 10 to 16 teams for the 2020 and 2021 seasons
- Universal designated hitter
- $10 million donation from MLB to social justice initiatives and plans
- Clubs allowed to sell patches and advertisements on uniforms in 2020 and 2021
- 50-50 split of TV revenues for 2021 postseason games
- Forgiveness of salary advance for Tier I-III players of the March agreement
- Mutual waiver of grievances
- A minimum pool for playoff shares in 2020 based on rounds played and $50 million if full playoffs are staged
- $50 million transfer to the commissioner’s discretionary fund
- Full salary and service for high-risk players and those living with high-risk individuals at home
- Increased housing allowances in spring training and regular season
- Broadcast enhancement collaborations
Based on an agreement between the two sides, MLB has the ability to implement the 2020 season of its desired length (likely 50 to 55 games), which would surely lead to a player grievance.
MLB’s deal consisted of paying players full prorated salaries while receiving an additional $25 million for playoffs and $33 million in forgiveness on the $170 million advance received from the March agreement.
