This is now bordering on ridiculous, and it’s not painting either side in the best of lights.
One day after it was reported that a deal was close to start the 2020 MLB season, we’re now seemingly back to ground zero.
MLB sees no “pathway” for a deal with the players to start the 2020 season
According to this note from Joel Sherman of the NY Post, it seems like there’s a further rift between MLB and its players.
The league’s most-recent offer included a 60-game schedule with players receiving 100% of their prorated salaries. It also included an extended playoff format with playoff pool money.
In return, the players have counter offered with a 70-game schedule. The regular season would start July 19 and end September 30. Spring Training would get going later this month.
It’s not yet known how the league might respond. MLB thought it had a deal all worked out after Commissioner Rob Manfred met with MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark in Arizona on Wednesday. That’s obviously not the case.
Will the 2020 MLB season be played?
This latest update seems to suggest that we’re not much further a long than this past weekend when MLBPA rejected the league’s past offer and publicly called for an end in negotiations.
The MLB season was suspended back in March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Considering both the NHL and NBA are set to resume their seasons here soon, it’s certainly a bad look for America’s Pastime during the global pandemic and economic downturn.
Where does MLB go from here?
This is the biggest question. Will MLB be receptive to a 70-game regular season? If not, will the union back down and go with 60 games? Remember, Manfred has the ability to force the players back on to the field for a 50-game season. That could ultimately be the end result here.