MLB 2020 Season: Predicting the Start
The ongoing pandemic has brought sports all over the world to a halt. This leaves fans with little more to do than wonder when they’ll be back. Unfortunately, the best answer to this question is, “it depends.” Many factors will determine when to re-start. Those factors include how the pandemic progresses, how efficiently the health authorities in each individual state and country are in fighting it, and it matters when the same authorities will be able to green light their resumption in a safe manner.
Japan resumed its practice games at the beginning of June, scheduling more than 70 of them until June 14. In South Korea, the baseball season has already restarted. Without fans in attendance, of course, with their places being taken by cardboard cutouts.
In the US, Iowa became the first state to resume high school sports with baseball and softball. But when it comes to the MLB, things are still as unpredictable as the outcome of a slot machine at the 7Sultans Casino.
Ongoing negotiations
The MLB and the MLBPA are engaged in negotiations to determine how and when the season should resume. According to ESPN columnist Jeff Passan, citing a source close to the negotiations that preferred to remain anonymous, the MLBPA has delivered a proposal to the MLB that calls for a season consisting of 114 games that should start on June 30 and end on October 31, pushing the postseason to November.
The MLBPA delivered a proposal to MLB on Sunday afternoon, a source familiar with it tells ESPN. It includes 114-game season that would end October 31, the right to opt out of the season for all players and potential deferral of salaries if 2020 the postseason were canceled.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 1, 2020
The MLB’s proposal included a sliding scale for salaries. However the MLBPA’s plan would see players receive about 70% of their salaries. Players would have the possibility to opt-out of the participation – those in the “high risk” category would still receive a salary and major league service time.
In the case of the postseason being canceled due to a potential second wave of the pandemic, the union proposes that part of the salaries of the players whose revenues exceed $10 million (up to a total of $100 million) to be deferred, with interest, to November 2021 and November 2022.
The Possibility of A Shorter Season
In a series of tweets published on June 2nd, Passan revealed that he expects the MLB to reject the couter offer from the MLBPA. After that, he reports that the owners may try to implement a shorter season with around 50 or 60 games. He thinks that the MLB will continue to propose the shorter season or maybe even mandate it based on an agreement it reached with players in March.
The two parties are prepared to delay the start of the season if they can’t reach an agreement. Right now, the June 30 start date becomes unrealistic if they can’t agree this week. For the MLB season to start at that date, the second spring training has to start in mid-June. As the deadline draws to a close, be hopeful that they will finally agree on a deal that’s mutually beneficial – and will finally give baseball fans what they want. Time is running out for the two sides to come together on this deal.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
