The National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association are both on their way to restarting their seasons. That’s not the case with Major League Baseball. MLB’s problems have continued with both sides failing to come up with a viable solution. Let’s go through the timeline. Check out an updated MLB Odds & News on where Major League Baseball stands in its quest to start the 2020 MLB Season on our Coronavirus (COVID-19) MLB Update.
MLB Update – June 15th Edition
2020 Major League Baseball Season
- When: TBD
- Where: Various Venues
2020 World Series Futures
- New York Yankees +325
- Los Angeles Dodgers +325
- Houston Astros +775
- Atlanta Braves +1500
- Louis Cardinals +2200
- Minnesota Twins +1800
- Washington Nationals +1800
- New York Mets +2000
- Philadelphia Phillies +3000
- A. Angels +2400
- Boston Red Sox +4500
- Cleveland Indians +2400
- Chicago Cubs +2200
- Tampa Bay Rays +2200
- Oakland Athletics +2500
- Cincinnati Reds +2500
- Milwaukee Brewers +4500
- Chicago White Sox +2400
- San Diego Padres +4000
- Arizona Diamondbacks +6000
- Texas Rangers +8000
- Toronto Blue Jays +8000
- Colorado Rockies +18000
- Pittsburgh Pirates +30000
- San Francisco Giants +15000
- Seattle Mariners +30000
- Baltimore Orioles +50000
- Detroit Tigers +50000
- Kansas City Royals +20000
- Miami Marlins +50000
MLB presents 76-game proposal, its second, on June 8
On June 8, Major League Baseball presented players with a second proposal. The second proposal called for a higher potential salary than the first plan. Why did the players balk at the proposal?
It also called for less guaranteed money. That meant players would hit the diamond under a Covid-19 shroud knowing that their potential salaries, even though higher, weren’t fully guaranteed.
MLB’s second proposal called for players to receive up to 75% of their salaries but only if playoffs were held. If a second-wave of the coronavirus affected MLB, or if players decided to stay home due to health concerns, MLB had the right to pull salaries.
Players came back with their own proposal that MLB rejected
The MLB Players Association (MLBPA) came back with their own proposal. The players’ proposal called for an 89-game season, with full prorated salaries, with a player opt-out clause.
The proposal called for an expanded 16-team playoffs. The opt-out options called for compensation and service time if the players themselves were at high-risk or resided with someone at high-risk.
MLB comes back with a third offer
On June 13, Major League Baseball came out with a third offer. The third offer called for a 72-game season that would end on September 27.
Other details included a maxed out players compensation of 80% of their prorated salaries. Owners also said they’d add an additional $50 million to playoff teams, bringing the total to 83% of prorated salaries.
In addition, the third MLB proposal called for teams to have 30 players for the first two weeks of the season, 28 for the next couple of weeks, and 26 for the remainder of the season.
The players rejected the proposal. MLBPA lead negotiator Bruce Meyer sent a letter to the league. In it he said, “We demand you inform us of your plans by end of day Monday, June 15.”
The MLBPA wants to play a 50-game season with full prorated salaries. Whether or not that happens, is up to the owners.
It’s doubtful MLB owners respond by end of day on Monday. Expect another proposal to come down the pipe this week, though.
It sounds like baseball is far from deciding on a restart.
