MLB and the MLBPA have entered into probably the most important week of labor talks in recent memory. The hard deadline of June 5, is rapidly approaching with fans anxiously waiting for how it’ll all play out.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan graced fans Sunday afternoon with an announcement that the MLBPA had submitted its proposal to MLB after declining the previous one that MLB had sent to them.
MLBPA Proposal
- 114-game season instead of the previously suggested 82 (Oct. 31 end date)
- Players have the right to opt-out of the season
- expanded playoffs for ’20 and ’21 seasons, 7 teams per league (top team in each league receives a bye)
- potential deferral of salaries if 2020 postseason is canceled
For the players opting out: those who are considered "high-risk" would receive salary, whereas others would receive service time only.
Further, players would receive $100 million total advance during the new spring training.
Also: MLBPA proposes two years of playoff expansion.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 1, 2020
Since the players’ proposal calls for more games and an earlier start date than the previous July 4th date, a deal needs to be agreed upon this week. Especially since players would need three weeks of a Spring Training 2.0 and the season already pushes deep into the fall. Players would also have to be given time to get to their respective team facilities from wherever they are currently residing as well as go through Coronavirus testing.
While there is no certainty that an agreement will be made this week, this gives some hope to baseball fans. The Dodgers are well equipped for a shortened season with the depth their roster holds and had great odds to win it all this year before the current pandemic. In an offseason that saw them net an MVP caliber player in Mookie Betts and a still capable veteran arm in David Price, Dodger fans were already drooling over the idea of a potential World Series title in 2020. Many players have continued to workout out and stay ready for the season whether at Dodger Stadium or Camelback Ranch. Rest assured our Boys in Blue will be ready if a plan for the season does come about.
These next few days will be crucial for any chance of a baseball season this year. Failure to come to an agreement on the season would be disastrous for the sport. We can only continue to anxiously wait and hope that baseball will be back this season. Our country and world could definitely use it right about now.
