USA TODAY International Edition
Baseball’s nastiness, posturing continues
New day, new proposal, same ol’ nastiness.
The only difference Monday after Major League Baseball’s latest proposal to the players union, with a Wednesday deadline for approval, is that MLB officials are absolutely convinced there will be a baseball season this summer.
The only real question is how many games will be played?
MLB submitted its third official proposal Monday morning to the union that calls for a 76- game season starting July 10 that will pay players 75% of their salaries if there’s a postseason, and 50% if the postseason is canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The postseason also could be increased to eight teams in each league instead of seven teams from their last proposal, if the union agrees.
The union did not formally reject the proposal, but called it a “step backwards,’’ believing the players are being asked to take even a greater financial risk than previous proposals if there is no postseason because of COVID- 19.
MLB officials called it a “damn good proposal,’’ paying $ 393 million in postseason TV money, $ 50 million in a postseason players’ pool, while also permitting the union to keep $ 34 million from their original $ 170 million in upfront money. The $ 34 million would provide pay to the players earning the minimum $ 563,500 salary since they’ve already earned about $ 285,000 in upfront payments that stopped May 24, which would cover their entire pro- rated salary with 76 games.
MLB, knowing that the upcoming free- agent class — led by Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts — could be substantially hurt with the loss of revenue this year, also offered to waive draftpick compensation for free agents. Teams no longer would be permitted to submit qualifying offers for free agents,
tying them to draft picks. Last winter, teams made qualifying offers to 10 players.
Certainly, the removal of draft- pick compensation would wipe out the excuse teams use for not seeking the greatest players on the free- agent market and would be viewed as a huge victory by the union.
While the players union is expected to reject the offer, they also likely will come up with a counter- offer this week, coming off their last proposal seeking a 114- game schedule with full pro- rated pay.
MLB officials are adamant that the regular- season season must end by Sept. 27, with the postseason finishing by the end of October, after speaking to medical experts who believe a second wave of the coronavirus will sweep across the nation again in the fall. If the postseason is canceled, MLB stands to lose about $ 1 billion in TV revenue.
Still, the union is seeking full pro- rated pay, particularly since the players are the ones taking the health risks. MLB is also asking the players to sign an “acknowledgment risk’’ waiver protecting the league and teams from liability if any players contract COVID- 19.
While there are no hard deadlines in these negotiations, time is of the essence for baseball to play close to a halfseason. Once an agreement is reached, players are expected to be given one week to report for spring training, with a three- week spring training camp. There are only 79 days on the calendar if the season starts July 10 and ends on Sept. 27.
If no agreement is reached, Commissioner Rob Manfred plans to simply implement a 48- to- 54- game schedule that will pay players their full prorated salary under their March 26 agreement.
The union, in turn, can file a grievance while also rejecting an expanded postseason, which would result in about $ 750 million in postseason TV revenues instead of $ 1 billion with the extra round of playoffs. If MLB and the union agree to an expanded postseason, the first round would consist of a bestof- three series among the eight teams with no first- round bye.
“Look, [ union lawyer] Bruce Meyer made a good deal,’’ Chicago White Sox special assistant Dennis Gilbert said. “They got a full year of major- league service. But the owners didn’t give that for nothing. The players assumed they were going to get their pro- rated salary when they came back. That was never the case without fans in the stands.’’
The owners say they will lose $ 640,000 a game, per team, if players don’t take a pay cut from their prorated salaries. The union disputes the claim.
The way the math works now for the players is that if they earn 75% of their prorated salaries for 76 games, it will total $ 1.432 billion.
And if the players insist they receive full pay, they would earn about the same over 57 games.
Will we have a 48- 52 game season that will be viewed as nothing more than a marketing gimmick?
Or will we have a season of at least 75 games?
The players are screaming they want to play as many games as possible. The owners are whispering that they do, too.
If these negotiations aren’t wrapped up in the next 10 days, everyone loses.
The clock is ticking.