MLB Season in Limbo as Players Draw Hard Line
Just last week, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred let it be known: "100 percent" there will be a Major League Baseball season. That does not mean, however, that Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association can agree on a deal. After MLB's latest proposal, the MLB PA took a hard line: they are done negotiating.
In the latest deal from MLB, the league would pay 70% of salaries on a pro-rated basis over 72 games. That number would increase to 80% if there is a postseason. But as many pointed out, this is essentially the same amount of money as if there is an MLB-imposed 48-game season in which players receive full pro-rated pay. The MLBPA was not impressed and therefore took a hard line:
Without another counter-offer, we essentially wait for MLB to decide what to do with the season.
Evan Drellich of The Athletic outlines the disconnect between the MLBPA and MLB, mostly regarding reduced pay beyond pro-rated pay in a shortened season.
Drellich's colleague at The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal, notes that the players hope for their start date by some point today. Will MLB do so? Will they try to sweeten the pot somewhat? We should know soon.