Once it became evident Opening Day of the 2020 regular season would not be held March 26 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Major League Baseball and the Players Association began facing a ticking clock of sorts.
It seemingly was addressed through an agreement reached in late March for the league to provide a lump sum advance of $170 million to cover April and May, and players would receive prorated salaries if or when the regular season began.
However, as MLB owners settled on a proposal to present to the union, they have claimed the March agreement hinged on fans being able to attend games. Considering that is an unlikely scenario for most, if not the entire 2020 season, owners are seeking a 50-50 revenue split.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports, a league attorney believes the current agreement explicitly outlines the requirement for fans:
“The whole agreement is premised on that the season was only going to resume in front of fans,” an MLB attorney directly involved with the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the attorney was not authorized to talk publicly. “The way it was structured, the season was not starting unless we can play with fans at either home ballparks or neutral sites. That was understood.
“We knew going in that it was not economically feasible to play without fans with the way the deal was structured. We bargained for the right to not start the season if we could not play in front of fans.”
The attorney’s stance would appear to be supported by the first provision that was included in the deal:
1. There are no federal, state, city, or local restrictions on mass gatherings or other restrictions that would materially limit the Clubs’ ability to play games in front of spectators, with regular fan access, in each of the 30 Clubs’ home ballparks; provided, however, that the Commissioner will consider the use of appropriate substitute neutral sites where economically feasible.
2. There shall be no relevant restrictions on traveling throughout the United States and Canada.
3. The Commissioner determines, after consultation with recognized medical experts and the Players Association, that it does not pose an unreasonable health and safety risk to players, staff, or spectators to stage games in front of fans in each of the 30 Clubs’ home ballparks; provided that, the Office of the Commissioner and Players Association will discuss in good faith the economic feasibility of playing games in the absence of spectators or at appropriate substitute neutral sites.
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark has maintained the union will not negotiate any further on economic matters, citing the original agreement. It’s a sentiment multiple players have shared on an individual level, perhaps most notably and controversially by Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell.
Despite the underlying friction between the two sides, commissioner Rob Manfred voiced confidence MLB and the union will come to terms.
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