MLB, players agree to deal on COVID-19 work stoppage
Major League Baseball and the Players Association reportedly have agreed on a deal that drastically changes the 2020 draft, awards service time to all players regardless of the 2020 season’s outcome, and offers players a lump sum for games missed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Owners still must approve the pact, which has no framework for a regularseason schedule. The league is at the mercy of the coronavirus’ spread before it can determine when, or if, baseball can be played. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday night he was optimistic the sport could be “gearing back up” in May.
Most impactful of all the agreed-on language is this: Players will be awarded a full year of service time if the 2020 season is shortened or not played at all. Impending free agents — such as Astros outfielders George Springer and Michael Brantley — will enter the open market regardless of how long their final year of club control lasts.
Houston has five players due to hit free agency in 2021: Springer, Brantley, Josh Reddick, Brad Peacock and Yuli Gurriel.
Players will split an advance lump sum payment of $170 million for April and May. If there is no season, the players will keep the money. According to reports, players have agreed not to sue for their salaries if the season is canceled. If there is a regular season, salaries will be prorated based on its length.
The league still will hold its amateur draft, but it will be shortened from 40 rounds to five. MLB does retain the right to lengthen it, depending on when the regular season resumes.
The Astros lost their firstand second-round picks in both the 2020 and 2021 drafts as punishment for electronically stealing signs during the 2017 season.
Assuming the 2020 draft remains five rounds, the team will have four picks — one each in the third, fourth and fifth rounds and a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B. The compensatory pick, 74th overall, is a result of Gerrit Cole declining the team’s qualifying offer and signing with the Yankees.
Teams can defer signing bonuses for draft picks in 2020 and 2021, with 10 percent due within 30 days of each contract’s approval and 45 percent on July 1 in each of the next two years. Undrafted players still can sign, but their bonuses are capped at $20,000.
The league also can delay the start of the international signing period from July 2 to as late as January 2021. It can shorten the 2021 draft from 40 rounds to 20, too, and could push back the 2021 international signing period to January 2022.