I’m not going to burn up my Friday night getting pissed again by the fact that MLB and its owners aren’t going to do the obvious thing and just counter to the players’ 70-game response. I just don’t have it in me. I doubt you do either.
Here’s the news:
MLB has told Players Association it will not make a counter-offer to union’s 70-game proposal, sources tell me and @EvanDrellich. League talking with owners this weekend to discuss its next options moving forward. Last MLB offer: 60 games. Could try to implement in 50-odd range.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 19, 2020
The Major League Baseball Players Association today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/XxRDSskBBT
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 19, 2020
Even if the owners refuse to move off of 60 games, it’s not as if there weren’t a number of other financial terms that could have been countered. But, nope. Not even that.
So, again, we’re back where we started. The path toward an agreement was right there this week. So obvious. So necessary. And yet the sport finds another opportunity to deeply disappoint. Who knows what happens next.
The owners could now just unilaterally impose a 50-game season, and with it comes:
⇒ Much fewer games for the fans.
⇒ Much less money for the players.
⇒ Much less positive exposure for the sport.
⇒ Much more fan antipathy about the return.
⇒ Much more player hostility going forward.
⇒ Possibly fewer players actually participating.
⇒ Definitely fewer player-involved extra activities.
⇒ No expanded playoffs.
⇒ Likely even bigger fight about post-2021 CBA than already expected.
Would cost $5 million per owner to meet in the middle. Baseball is a an embarrasment. https://t.co/izdWFdIUKq
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) June 19, 2020
UPDATE: I would be very surprised if the players actually accept this deal without the right to later file a grievance:
MLB players are expected to vote soon — likely by tomorrow — whether to take the 60-game framework deal Manfred/Clark worked on Monday that includes expanded playoffs and other bonuses or let commissioner Manfred set the schedule for 50-60 as allowed by the March 26 agreement.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 20, 2020