As Major League Baseball works toward beginning its 2020 regular season, the final hurdle to clear appears to be reaching an agreement with the Players Association.
Earlier this week team owners approved a plan that comprised of an estimated 82 games, universal designated hitter and hosting Spring Training and the regular season at home ballparks as opposed to centralized location(s).
The owners also are said to have settled on a 50-50 revenue split as part of their pitch to the union. That is the source of some friction, however, as the MLBPA has made it clear they view a March agreement on prorated salaries as already having addressed financial issues.
And while the two sides met Tuesday, MLB did not yet delve into the specifics of their revenue share proposal, according to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press:
Major League Baseball did not include an economic proposal during its opening presentation to the players’ union on terms to start the coronavirus-delayed season.
The electronic meeting of MLB and the players’ association lasted between three and four hours and consisted of baseball officials explaining their view of the economics, science and logistics of getting the season under way, several people familiar with the session told The Associated Press.
The March agreement called for the Players Association to receive a lump sum of $170 million that was to be paid out over April and May. Beyond that, players would receive prorated salaries based on how many games the league ultimately manages to play.
However, owners are claiming that agreement hinged on regular-season games with fans in attendances. By most accounts that doesn’t appear to be a likely scenario this year. Meanwhile, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark has refuted that notion, and indicated a revenue share plan is a non-starter for the union.
Also at the forefront of their concerns is player safety. Clark previously indicated ample testing and a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine are both required in order to begin the season.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in our shows, and more!
