Play Ball?

This season in our lives has pushed us all to great lengths to make quick and timely decisions. Families, schools, and businesses have had the task to navigate through uncharted territory with little to no guidance along the way. Multiple sports leagues have made their decisions on this year’s season and the seasons to come in the future. The NFL has their schedules in place. College football teams are back on campus and starting routine workouts. The NBA will be playing in Orlando with select teams. But when you take a look at the leagues that would be playing or be close to starting their season, the MLB is the only league that has yet to make a decision on playing this season.

In light of the Coronavirus surfacing in America, the MLB canceled the remainder of its Spring Training games and postponed opening day by two weeks on March 12th of 2020. The league said in the announcement that, “Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our players, employees, and fans.” Four days later, Rob Manfred said the league was looking to push Opening Day back into mid-May at the absolute earliest. On March 25th, the MLB started to work with the MLBPA to a potential agreement regarding many issues and questions. There was a strong acknowledgment of a shorter season hoping to begin in early June. MLB would also guarantee a prorated salary to the players. Many of the players made statements to ESPN saying that they would be open to playing a large number of doubleheaders to make up for the lost time. It was very clear at that point, that both the owners and the players wanted to play as much as possible this season.

The MLB and its players were looking to make a plan which would allow them to start playing and practicing as early as May but would also have the ‘okay’ from public health officials for a safe season. The plan, was for all 30 MLB teams to play all of their games in the Phoenix area. The players, coaching staff, medical crew, and other essential personnel would be held in a hotel and would only be allowed to go back and forth from the hotel to the field. Due to the positive talk, and questions seeming to be answered, there was a large surge of optimism in the baseball world as they worked toward playing in 2020. However, on May 11th, Rob Manfred proposed a return-to-play scenario, which would allow baseball to be played back in their home fields by early June. The MLB owners approved this proposal and immediately took it to the players. The owners offered the players a 50-50 revenue split for this season only. They would play 82 games instead of 162, which would be strictly divisional and regional. Spring Training would start back up in mid-June, and Opening Day would happen in early July. And of course, there would be no fans allowed in the stadiums. This proposal created a make-or-break moment for the 2020 MLB season. The players would either accept this and move forward, or they would make a counteroffer and start a bargaining war with the MLB.

May 31st marked the first volley between the MLB and the MLBPA. The original proposal made by the MLB was quickly shot down by the Players Association due to the salary cuts. ESPN reported that the league planned on paying the lower-salaried players a higher percentage of their expected wages and some of the league’s most notable names, an insubstantial fraction of their expected wages. The MLBPA shot down this proposal and countered with a hefty option of 114 games with deferred salaries, and an opt-out option for all players. Nine days later, the MLB batted down the offer from the players and countered with a higher potential salary, but less guaranteed money over a 76-game season. This was quickly dismissed by the players and they countered with an 89-game regular season with full prorated salaries, an expanded 16-team playoff, and an opt-out option for all players including paid compensation if they are at risk or live with someone who is a high risk for COVID-19. The MLB replied by accepting the 16-team postseason but, extended their season to 72-games and denied full prorated salaries. On June 13th, the MLBPA rejected the MLB’s third offer. With frustration and a ticking clock looming over the league and its players, MLBPA chief Tony Clark said, “Further dialogue with the league would be futile. It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where.”

A March agreement between the two parties, allows the MLB to set a schedule, having teams play at or around 50 games and pay them their full prorated salaries. The players combined would be paid around 1.25 Billion dollars. So, on June 17th Manfred and Clark met to make a large progression. The MLB made an offer to the players to play a 60-game season at full prorated salaries. At this time players seem to be wanting a 65-game season with full pro-rata, but the MLB will not be responding to another proposal and will not play more than 60 games.

So, what is all this to say? It does look like we will be watching live sports sooner rather than later. The players and the owners seem to be ready to get back on the field and start winning some games for their cities. However, the league still equivocal in the direction and future of the game. There will be many small changes in the game due to the Coronavirus i.e., no fans, no spitting on the fields, no sunflower seeds, constant COVID-19 testing, along with countless other things. This season should be interesting, but before they start, they must come to a consensus.