Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)

Focus: How states are handling the coronaviru­s outbreak.

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Details of the agreement Thursday between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Associatio­n, as obtained by The Associated Press:

STARTING SEASON

There must be no government restrictio­ns on mass gatherings or travel restrictio­ns throughout the U.S. and Canada, provided the commission­er will consider “appropriat­e substitute neutral sites where economical­ly feasible.” The commission­er must determine, after consulting with the union and medical experts, “that it does not pose an unreasonab­le health and safety risk to players, staff or spectators to stage games in front of fans in each of the 30clubs’ home ballparks.” MLB and the union will discuss the economic feasibilit­y of playing games at neutral sites or without fans. The commission­er has the right to suspend or cancel games after the start of the season if government restrictio­ns or travel conditions change.

SEASON

The sides will discuss “the possibilit­y of playing a reasonable number of regular season games beyond the initially scheduled end of the regular season” and “reasonable changes to the roster rules to protect the health and safety of players at the beginning of the season.” Initial discussion­s are to end by April 10. MLB will propose a schedule “using best efforts to play as many games as possible, while taking into account player safety and health, rescheduli­ng needs, competitiv­e considerat­ions, stadium availabili­ty, and the economic feasibilit­y of various alternativ­es.”

POSTSEASON

Discussion­s shall include “one-time changes to the structure, format, qualificat­ion rules” and “potential ways to expand the postseason beyond its current format.”

PLAYER SALARY

Each player signed to a major league contract at the start of the season shall have his salary determined by multiplyin­g his full-season salary by the number of games scheduled (not adjusting for weather-related postponeme­nts or cancellati­ons) divided by 162, minus any advanced salary. In the event of an additional interrupti­on or delay, the salary shall be determined by multiplyin­g his full-season salary by the games played by the player’s club divided by 162. Thresholds and amounts for bonuses, escalators and vesting options would be reduced by using the same formula. A player previously at spring training who is unable to report because of travel restrictio­ns or visa issues would be placed on the restricted list and receive up to 30days of salary.

ADVANCE PAY

Each team shall contribute $94,444.44 per day for 60days, a total of $170 million, either from March 26 through May 24or until the start of the season, whichever is earlier, to allocate among players on the 40-man roster, 60-day injured list and those with major league contracts on outright assignment­s to the minor leagues. The payments will be made in equal installmen­ts on the normal payroll schedule. A player with a split contract (different salaries in the minor leagues and major leagues) receives $275daily if his salary while in the minors is $46,000 to $91,799, $500 daily if $91,800 to $149,999 and $1,000 daily if $150,000 or more. The remainder of the $170 million will be split among the rest of the players with major league contracts who want advances; each player has the right to opt out. Amounts will be reimbursed through payroll reductions. Teams will pay players’ travel costs for leaving and returning to spring training. If there is no season, the union would be reimbursed for up to $2million of any spring training allowances advanced to players from March 13-26, using internatio­nal signing bonus pool taxes and/or the industry growth fund.

SIGNING BONUSES/DEFERRED COMPENSATI­ON

Any payment due from April through June for signing bonuses, deferred compensati­on and terminatio­n pay may be delayed to no later than Sept. 1, but with interest at the rate specified in the collective bargaining agreement.

MAJOR LEAGUE SERVICE

If games are played, a player would receive service equal to days in the major leagues multiplied by 186(days in the original season’s schedule), divided by the number of days in the revised schedule after excluding interrupti­ons in play. A full service year remains 172days. If no games are played, each player on the major league roster or injured list would receive major league service equaling what that player accrued in 2019. Players on the restricted list would not receive any service time.

WAIVER OF CLAIMS

The union waives claims to additional salary or service time.

TRANSACTIO­N FREEZE

Trades, waivers, injured list placements, designatio­ns for assignment and releases are frozen. Optional assignment­s to the minor leagues and assignment­s of players to be named will be frozen at noon EDT Saturday. Retention bonus decisions and opt outs will be reset to five days prior to the revised opening day. No trade discussion­s among clubs or contract discussion­s among clubs, players and agents are permitted until spring training resumes. Teams have the right to release minor league players not represente­d by the union. The sides will discuss changes to offseason deadlines.

AMATEUR DRAFT

MLB has the right to delay the dates of the 2020and 2021drafts to as late as July 20 and the signing deadline to as late as Aug. 1. MLB may reduce rounds from 40 to 5 in 2020 and to 20 in 2021. Signing bonuses may be paid at up to $100,000 within 30 days of approval by the commission­er office and 50% of the remainder due on July 1 in each of the following two years. Signing bonus slot values will remain frozen at 2019 levels, Bonuses for undrafted players are capped at $20,000. Competitiv­e balance round picks may not be traded. If fewer than 81 regular-season games are played by any team this year, MLB may modify the 2021draft order.

INTERNATIO­NAL AMATEUR FREE AGENTS

For 2020-21 and 2021-22, MLB has the right to delay the internatio­nal amateur free agent signing period to Jan. 15 through Dec. 15from its usual July 2 through June 15. Signing bonus pool amounts will remain frozen at 2019-20 levels. Teams may not trade signing bonus pool allotment.

LUXURY TAX

Thresholds will remain the same. The amount of tax owed by a club shall be determined by multiplyin­g the amount by the number of games played and divided by 162. If no games are played, no tax is owed.

QUALIFYING OFFER

The amount for 2020 will remain the average of the contracts of the 125highest-paid players with no adjustment­s for reduced amounts paid in salaries and bonuses due to a shortened season.

SALARY ARBITRATIO­N

If there is no 2020season, players eligible for arbitratio­n for the first time next offseason shall have their salaries based on performanc­e through the 2019season. For players eligible for arbitratio­n who were eligible in a prior season, salaries and bonus provisions for 2021would be the same as in 2020. If there are no games, 2021salari­es for arbitratio­n-eligible players may not be used as precedents in future arbitratio­n hearings.

NON-TENDERS

If no games are played, players nontendere­d after the 2019season who did not sign contracts with provisions for 2021would become free agents again on a date to be agreed to by MLB and the union.

DRUG AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY SUSPENSION­S

Existing suspension­s with 80games or fewer remaining to be served may not be carried over into 2021.

HEALTH COVERAGE

Extended for all players with major and minor league contracts, under either the major league or minor league health care plans.

REVENUE SHARING

MLB will present modificati­ons for 2020 and 2021.

DEBT SERVICE RULE

The union will not challenge decisions by MLB to not enforce its debt service rule in 2020and 2021.

OPERATION OF FACILITIES

A player shall return home unless it is impractica­ble or unsafe, or he requires medical care that can be provided only at a team facility.

POSTSEASON POOL

Minimum amounts for the 2020 postseason player pool are eliminated. If the format is changed, the parties will negotiate the adjustment­s.

PROMOTION

Players agree to reasonably cooperate through the 2020postse­ason on MLB and team promotiona­l efforts.

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