We are quickly approaching negotiations between MLB owners and the players. We have recently learned that the owners have approved a proposal to present to players, per Ken Rosenthal. They are planning on meeting tomorrow to discuss the proposed plan. We will know if baseball will be played very soon. I’m feeling very hopeful about a compromise between the players and the MLB owners, but I do have some doubts that we will see baseball this year. If the owners approved a a plan, that means that it has been signed off from government health officials. That’s the only way a plan would be approved and sent to the players. I was hopeful seeing baseball return in Taiwan and Korea because they have been a litmus test for us to see if you can successfully have a baseball season this year. The league has been doing so well that they have allowed up to 1,000 fans to return to watch the games.
Through very strict procedures, the CPBL and the KBO have started their seasons without any complications. I’m sure many MLB players have talked with former pro guys from the states that play in these leagues to see what it is like to play despite the fear of the virus hanging over them. It seems that if the players and the league follow similar guideline there is a great possibility that we can have a season here in the States. The plan should be similar to what we have been hearing. Little details have dropped here and there of how they would shape their season, here are some of the changes:
- An expansion of playoff teams from 10 to 14
- An 82-game season
- The use of home stadiums in areas that have local and state governmental approval
- A so-called spring training 2.0 that begins in June with a season set for early July
- A universal designated hitter
- Geographical schedules, in which teams play only in-division opponents and interleague opponents in a similar area (i.e., American League Central teams play only AL Central and National League Central teams)
- A 30-man roster with a taxi squad that would have upward of 50 players available
The main driving factor on whether we have a baseball season is money. A proposed plan would most likely not include any fans, which is about 40% of their revenue. In their proposal MLB owners included a 50/50 revenue split with the players. MLB is the lone uncapped team sport in the US and has never had a straight revenue split. If there is no agreement money wise within the next few days it is very unlikely we see a 2020 MLB season. The players know that if there is no season this year, they will have to take a hefty pay cut. Another major factor is ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Nationals Pitcher Sean Doolittle took to Twitter to discuss some the factors he will be looking at when the MLB owners show their proposal. Most of the issues involved the health risks for trying to rush a season this year. A plan wouldn’t get approved if it didn’t get signed off by health officials. Even with that, Doolittle and other players wondering if having a season is worth risking lives for a virus we don’t fully know all about. If the money is agreeable and MLB can ensure a safe environment for everyone involved we will have a season this year. The longer they go back and forth on the proposal, the more time they lose to play as many games as possible. Stay tuned within the next few days as we hear about the negotiation process between the owners and players.
The Washed Up Athlete 