MLBPA Sends Counterproposal to Owners Late Sunday and the Details Will Make You Hopeful
By Adam Weinrib
It's suddenly clear why those in the game were feeling sudden optimism and urgency on Sunday afternoon.
After a weekend of silence, it turns out the MLBPA did, in fact, send a counteroffer to ownership on Sunday, and the increased pessimism about a July 4 Opening Day might be abated a bit in the aftermath.
In fact, a June 30 opener is a core segment of the players' proposal, which features deferred money and an expanded playoff field for the next two seasons.
Source: MLBPA delivered its proposal to the league on Sunday afternoon.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 1, 2020
ª Schedule: 114 games, June 30-Oct. 31
• Two years of expanded playoffs
• $100 million of total deferred money
• Opt out for all players if they don’t want to play
Additionally, though the opt-out clause for players who don't feel comfortable participating could be a sticking point, it is wholly necessary.
Though us humble reporters have no idea how MLB ownership will react to the players' proposal, it is far from vitriolic, and includes plenty of avenues to increased revenues in an effort to make things palatable. Also, it doesn't come with an angry preamble about transparency or open finances.
• Deferral would be ONLY if the postseason is canceled. Would apply to contracts of $10 million above (before being prorated). Payments would be in November 2021 and 2022.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 1, 2020
• Either way, players would get additional salary advance during spring training camp of $100 million.
An increase in games (from 82 to 114) will certainly justify the prorated salaries that players would like to maintain, and expanded playoffs will mean larger television deals and an ability for owners to recoup a bit of their losses.
The MLBPA is clearly hard at work attempting to craft special events to build revenue throughout the offseason, too.
MLBPA proposal says willingness to consider post-season or off-season Home Run Derby, All Star Game, other special events that could be revenue generators.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 1, 2020
While we wait patiently for a response (one ownership source told Jon Heyman this was a "nonstarter" but the players said that last time, too, and that started plenty), this feels like a major step forward for a league that's felt hopeless for at least a week and likely longer.