Major League Baseball owners are expected to make another offer to the players association Friday, but since it does not offer full prorated salaries, it seems unlikely that the union will approve it.
According to Karl Ravech of ESPN, the season would be about 70 to 75 games long, and players would receive somewhere between 80- to 85-percent of their prorated salaries. Players would also receive a share of the playoff pool money, and playoffs would be expanded, presumably to 16 teams.
Rob Manfred guaranteed a 2020 season during an interview with MLB Network Wednesday, with owners believing he has the power to mandate a season, even if an agreement is not reached.
“I remain committed to the idea that the best thing for our sport is to reach a negotiated agreement with the MLBPA that plays as many games as possible for our fans,” Manfred said. “We do have rights under the Mar. 26 agreement, and there could come a point and time where we exercise those rights.”
On the high end of MLB's latest proposal -- 85-percent prorated salaries over a 75 game season -- players would receive about 39.3-percent of their original 2020 salaries. On the low end -- 80-percent over 70 games -- it would be about 34.6-percent, which is actually a little less than what they offered Tuesday.
In MLB's last proposal, they offered 75-percent prorated salaries over a 76 game season, giving players a little more than 35-percent of their original salaries.
It expired as soon as they hit send. https://t.co/vK5UrRANrb
— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) June 12, 2020
Players have been insistent that they should receive prorated salaries, like the two sides agreed to in that March deal, but there was a clause that MLB could renegotiate if fans were not able to attend games.
However, it does not appear owners have much negotiating power to get off full prorated salaries. If Manfred mandates the season based on the March agreement, players will get full pro rata. The catch is that season would be significantly shorter, with 48 games being the common number being thrown around. Even in a drastically shortened season, that means players have a floor of receiving about 30-percent of their original salaries, and most of the league's offers have not crept much higher than 35-percent.
Failing to get a deal done would also cancel out the agreements the two sides have come to since March, like expanding playoffs and a universal designated hitter.
The owners are set on having the season end before November, so that means with every passing day, the regular season is likely going to be shorter.
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