Here's What MLB Players Gave up When Rob Manfred Implemented 2020 Season

An agreement has been reached to play Major League Baseball in 2020 -- it's the agreement from March 26, but who's counting?

Rob Manfred officially chose to implement a 60-game schedule after the MLBPA denied the league's 60-game proposal Monday night, with health and protocols still pending. But what's the difference between the two schedules?

There has been a ton of spin put on this situation by both sides, so it is hard to know the full truth. Yet it has been reported the players gave up several seemingly good things in favor of retaining the right to file grievances against the league.

MLB players seem relieved to still get 60 games, and prorated. They also get some leverage w/o extra playoffs but they appear to especially relish the grievance chance. What they gave up: 33M in salary forgiveness, 25M in player playoff pool, universal DH for 2020-21, labor peace
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 23, 2020

Losing the $33 million in salary forgiveness is tough, as it would have reportedly helped over half the league's players.

The losses hit even harder with the playoff money, while the universal DH essentially eliminates 15 extra jobs in 2021.

Union obviously sees the grievance as potentially very valuable, possibly worth up to 900M according to player side person. Union likely would have to show MLB was the one dragging its feet. That case might have been better had they stuck to “when and where” tack of 2 weeks ago?
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 23, 2020

The key here is the ability to file grievances. The players want to be able to say the owners did not negotiate in good faith and potentially sue for a large sum of money. One problem is that the two sides may never achieve labor peace after all of this, and a strike could be looming.

Giving up money in favor of the ability to file grievances is noble. The players just have to hope they come out on top and don't get engaged in another battle where some owners would rather sit with their money than see baseball be played.