Coronavirus (COVID-19) MLB Update – June 22nd Edition

There are some developments, none of it good, on Major League Baseball’s attempt to start the 2020 season. Unlike the NBA and the NHL, which had to shut down during their seasons, MLB never started their season. Keep reading for insight on those developments. 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 22^nd 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

On June 17, Major League Baseball sends proposal to players

Last week, Major League Baseball sent a proposal to the players that included pro-rated salaries as well as a 60-game season. Per Commissioner Rob Manfred, he and MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark had a great meeting about the proposal. Manfred said that Clark would present the proposal to players. It appeared that MLB had finally gotten on track to start their 2020 regular season. While the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League have come up with blueprints for a restart, even so far as coming out with important dates, MLB has yet to come up with a plan. In fact, Major League Baseball owners and players are fighting over money. They haven’t gotten to the point of discussing measures to limit the coronavirus from spreading once players return to the diamond. Most felt that MLB’s June 17 proposal would get restart plans going. But, this is American baseball where nothing is easy.

On June 19, the MLBPA proposes a 70-game season

Just two days later, last Friday, Tony Clark proposed that they play a 70-game season instead of a 60-game season. Because salaries will be prorated, the more games MLB can play, the better for players. For many players, there’s a massive difference between 60-games and 70-games. Players want as much as possible in their paychecks. From the baseball players’ point-of-view, if they must battle Covid-19, they want to make sure it’s worth their while.

That same day, MLB rejected the 70-game MLBPA proposal

Major League Baseball didn’t even wait until Saturday to reject the MLBPA’s latest proposal. That tells us a couple of things. First, it shows that team owners are willing to give up on the season. Second, it tells us that to baseball, on both sides of the equation, the most important thing is money. Manfred came back and said that it’s either 60 games or less. The commissioner pointed out that as every day passes, it becomes harder for MLB to come up with a schedule that includes “more than 60 games.”

MLB remains in purgatory

Neither side appears to want to give an inch, which is why there’s a good chance that baseball doesn’t happen this year. We’re holding out hope that players and owners come to some sort of agreement. Let’s keep our fingers-crossed that, eventually, both sides agree to some sort of plan to start the 2020 Major League Baseball Season.