Yankees president Levine calls for MLB talks to resume
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NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees President Randy Levine called on the players’ association to resume negotiations with Major League Baseball to start the pandemicdelayed season.
Levine said the money difference between the feuding sides was not the primary obstacle but rather issues such as health and safety protocols and determining how to deal with a second wave of the new coronavirus.
“So what I believe needs to happen is that the parties need to get together as soon as possible to resolve those issues so we can get the season going,” he said Tuesday. “All 30 clubs want to play. The commissioner wants to play. The players want to play. So let’s get these issues solved so we can begin playing baseball. The March agreement said the players would negotiate these issues. The commissioner has assured me he’s ready to do so. The players should get in a room and start negotiating so we can get going.
MLB has made three proposals, the last for a 72-game season starting July 14 that would guarantee about $1.23 billion of salaries that originally totaled roughly $4 billion and would increase the total to $1.45 billion if the postseason is completed.
Players insist they get the full prorated salaries called for in the March 26 agreement with MLB. That deal says the season doesn’t have to start unless there are no relevant travel restrictions in the U.S. and Canada, and that games can be played before fans in all 30 regular-season ballparks.
The union made offered two plans, the last for an 89-game schedule starting July 10 and salaries of $2.25 billion. The sides have ex
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