Major League Baseball's endeavors to play a season may be the goofiest drama in sports. After the league shut down in mid-March, the Players Association and the League owners agreed to a temporary solution to the potential of a shortened season: (and I'm paraphrasing) the players would agree to half the games for half the pay and not seek legal action otherwise. This happened on March 27th. Then, a month went by and it became unclear what would be necessary to get the season going again.
Finally, in May, the League proposed an 81 game season, with a revenue sharing plan that amounted to a lot less than the original payout structure, claiming colossal financial losses from what would be a definitely shortened season. The Players Association turned down this plan and requested to see the financial books regarding claims of losses. The owners failed to oblige, but instead, they offered a season of about 70 games, with a sliding scale salary plan that is laughed off the bargaining table, nearly before it can be discussed. In form, the players came back with a similarly preposterous proposal of 114 games and full previously bargained salary.
Now, if it looks, at this point, like neither side is listening to the other, it gets better… or worse. By June, the league puts out a third offer: 76 games, roughly 35% of bargained salary. Players Association counter-offers 89 games for 55% of bargained salary. If you're not keeping track of the math, the disparity is in the billions of dollars. By this point, there is universal doubt that the sides will reach an agreement for a 2020 season, so, on June 8th, MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, proclaimed "We're going to play baseball in 2020. A hundred percent!"
The League then offers its fourth official proposal: 72-game regular season, postseason expanded to 16 teams and just shy of 37% bargained salary. The Players Association, seemingly frustrated by constantly changing offers, in effect, challenges Manfred to enact a previously bargained shortened season mandate.
"Tell us when and where." Social media parallels the message and we get the feeling they've called the League's bluff. Instead, the fifth offer looks a lot like first, but with only 60 regular season games. The players, who had just called the owners out, do the unthinkable; they reject the offer and counter yet AGAIN. They want 70 games. Needless to say, exhausted sports analysts, opinionists and sports show hosts berate both sides over this ten game difference…
Wednesday, June 18: though no deal has been actually inked, Players Association President, Tony Clark, met again with Manfred and they say they've agreed to terms that will make a deal possible. The owners will concede the originally bargained prorated salary for a shortened regular session of about 65 games or so. If you're an MLB fanatic, like me, this it's good news. If not, college and pro football are right around the corner and look to be unaffected… probably.
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