MLB, players reach deal on compensation

The circumstances are less than ideal, but the Mookie Betts trade should work out OK for the Red Sox.

According to multiple reports on Thursday night, MLB and the MLB Players Association agreed on a deal to clarify the details of the 2020 season, which has been suspended and could yet be canceled altogether depending on the coronavirus pandemic.

Among the results of the deal, which has already been voted on by the players and could be ratified by the owners on Friday, is the matter of free agency. And the results are interesting for the Red Sox.

Players who were scheduled to hit free agency after the 2020 season will maintain that right, whether there’s an abbreviated season in 2020 or no season at all.

That means Betts will end up either playing only a partial season with the Dodgers or no games at all for the team that traded for him just before spring training began.

Service time will go forth as regularly scheduled, regardless of how many games are played this year, according to the new deal. And players with long-term contracts will stay on the same agreed-upon contracts and hit free agency as they normally would.

The Red Sox received outfielder Alex Verdugo, infielder Jeter Downs and catcher Connor Wong for Betts, David Price and cash before spring training began. Price has three years remaining on his deal while Betts is scheduled to be a free agent in the winter.

Players will receive a guaranteed $170 million total (less than 5 percent of their overall salaries) in April and

May, and will keep that money whether or not MLB ever resumes the season, according to the new deal.

According to the Associated Press, in the event of a shortened season, 2020 salaries would be prorated depending on how much of the season is played.

Management has the right to cut the amateur draft from 40 rounds to as few as five this year and 20 in 2021, and also has the right to delay the draft to as late as July 20 this year and next. It had been slated to start June 10 this year.

In addition, signing bonuses may be deferred in both years, with 10% due within 30 days of each contract’s approval and 45% on July 1 in each of the following two years.

In a late change, signing bonuses for undrafted players subject to the draft will be capped at $20,000 and not $10,000 as MLB proposed earlier.

Management also has the right to push back the start of the signing period for international amateur players from July 2 to the following Jan. 15 for both this year and for 2021. Then end of each signing period could be delayed from June 15 to Dec. 15.

In the event of a canceled season, all players who were eligible for salary arbitration last offseason would receive the same salaries in 2021 as they were due in 2020.