An implemented season?
After players reject 60game schedule, owners act
Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously Monday to implement a 2020 season after the Players Association voted to reject the league’s final offer to renegotiate their March 26 agreement, the league said in a statement.
The length and start date of the season were not announced, with the statement saying it was contingent on the union relaying by 2 p.m. PDT on Tuesday whether the players can report to Spring Training 2.0 by July 1 and will agree to the health and safety protocols that Major League Baseball proposed.
MLB is expected to implement a season of between 50 and 60 games, with players earning their full prorated salaries. The lack of a negotiated agreement means the postseason will not be expanded to 16 teams from 10.
Earlier Monday, the Players Association voted 335 to reject an offer to play a 60game regular season with expanded playoffs and full prorated salary to the players.
According to the MLB statement, that proposal would have implemented a universal designated hitter for this season and next, a guaranteed $25 million postseason player pool in 2020, $33 million in salary advances forgiven, largely to lowerpaid players — or 61% of all players — amounting to overall earnings of 104% of full prorated salary.
Even with these developments, questions remain whether a season will be played, and how, given the recent surge in COVID19 cases nationwide and within baseball. Some 40 players and staff members who have been to teams’ training facilities for informal workouts tested positive last week. Two people tied to the Giants’ facility in Arizona were tested after showing symptoms.
Although the owners want a firm answer by Tuesday on their proposed 67page health and safety agreement, the union said that will require more negotiations.
“Players have been saying ‘when and where?’ for at least a week now, so I don’t think us being ready by the 1st will be an issue,” said shortstop Brandon Crawford, one of several Giants whom The Chronicle sought for comment. “It’s disappointing how all this transpired, but I’m happy and excited that we’re getting back to baseball soon.”
In a statement released shortly after Monday’s player vote, the union said that during its meeting, “the full Board reaffirmed the players’ eagerness to return to work as soon and as safely as possible.
“To that end we anticipate finalizing a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols with Major League Baseball in the coming days.”
By rejecting the MLB proposal, the union is giving up some extra money and perks now, but is leaving open the right to file a grievance against the league stating that it did not live up to a March agreement that MLB would negotiate in good faith and try to play as many games as possible. A win in such a grievance could net the players much more.