Honey, I Shrunk the Season: A Definitive Timeline of Every MLB Proposal So Far

[renabanena]

Although the NBA and NHL have officially announced return plans, the MLB has dominated the headlines in every subject except an official return date. The negotiations between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have resulted in endless counteroffers, which have confused and frustrated fans. Having trouble keeping track of it all? Here is a definitive timeline of every proposal and event in MLB’s 2020 season showdown.*Critical professional Non-MLB sports' events denoted in italics

 

March 12th: MLB season is indefinitely postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic

• According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Major League Baseball announced that the 2020 regular season will be delayed by at least 2 weeks

March 26th: Commissioner Rob Manfred agrees to pay full prorated salaries for a season of any length after discussions with the Players Association

 

April 10th: MLB considers Grapefruit and Cactus leagues

• In this realignment, the Twins would be in the Grapefruit League South with the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles

May 5th: Korean Baseball Organization (KBO)’s opening day

 

April 28th: MLB further discusses a realignment plan of three divisions, combining the American League teams with the National League teams

 

May 11th: MLB owners approve a plan with an early July start, 82-game season, 30-man roster and 20-player taxi squad, 14-team postseason, and 50/50 revenue split among players and owners

 

May 13th: PGA Tour officially announces plans to restart in mid-June

 

May 20th: MLB formally proposes plan to the players, including a safety protocol, financial losses, a universal DH, and further details of the 2020 season. Rumors of financial disagreements begin to swirl. Plan is rejected by the union.

 

May 26th: ESPN’s Jeff Passan announces a new 82-game proposal by owners, which includes a sliding scale of salaries

 

• Under this proposal, the highest paid player in baseball, Mike Trout, would make 20% of his total salary in 2020. The highest paid Twin, Josh Donaldson, would be paid similarly. Opening day would still occur in early July, and a 21-day spring training would kick off the season. A playoff bonus is included in this proposal. Plan is rejected by the union

May 26th: NHL releases a “Return to Play Plan” to complete their postponed 2019 - 2020 season, with a modified competitive format of 24 playoff teams in 2 hub cities.

 

May 31st: The MLBPA counters with a 114-game proposal with no salary cuts and a June 30th opening day. This plan allows players who are uncomfortable playing to opt out and expanded playoffs for the next 2 years

 

June 1st: MLB proposes a 50-60 game season and agree to pay their players prorated salaries, which was already agreed upon on March 26th

• The maximum number of games a team can currently play in the postseason is 20

June 3rd: MLS ratifies a new collective bargaining agreement and a plan to resume their postponed 2020 season

 

June 3rd: MLB rejects MLBPA’s offer of 114 games with no salary cuts

 

June 4th: NBA approves 22-team format to complete their postponed 2019 - 2020 season

 

June 8th: MLB proposes a 76-game season with 75% prorated salaries, a 16-team postseason, and playoff bonuses

• MLB has given MLBPA three days to respond to this latest offer (June 11th)

June 9th: The MLBPA is preparing a proposal for an 89-game season with full prorated salaries and expanded playoffs, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

 

UPDATED June 12th: The MLB counter-proposes 72-game season starting July 14th, with expanded rosters, 80% prorated salaries, and an option for any player to opt out. The deadline for an agreement is Sunday, June 14th, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

 

 

After three months, zero progress has been made in determining a 2020 plan. However, time is quickly running out for both sides. Leave your thoughts below on when and how you think this will all conclude.

 

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[Nash Walker]

I’m pretty over it, honestly. I’m just ready for some baseball. 50 games grosses me out but what better alternative is there? Opening day 2021?

[h2oface]

As much money as the owners have made, and the fleecing of fans every game at the concessions and making them pay to park to see the game, it is time for them to take a hit...... "for the love of the game".

[saviking]

The whole affair turns me off. As big a fan as I am pretty soon I'll have golf back, basketball back, college football and the NFL. 

 

And if the players don't get more realistic they will get paid nothing, zero, nada. Sorry, I never feel sorry for someone that shoots themselves in the foot. Major League players have way over valued their barganing hand. If they lose their entire salary this year they will, never, never get it back. Just like an emply airline seat when a plane takes off this season is close to taking off (flying away} and I'm not going to shed one tear ..

 

Besides, I might never feel safe enough to go to a Minnesota sporting event again.

[ashbury]

Like it or not, the people who make it to the ranks of sports-team ownership did not do it by adopting a financial strategy of accepting short term losses in the name of a larger long term gain. Show a profit every quarter (if you're publicly traded), and let the future take care of itself. If a loss looms, minimize it.

 

If no games are played, the owners will collectively lose $X million. It flies in the face of their accumulated logic to lose even 1 more dollar than that, by paying the players to play the games.

 

Sad but true.

[Trov]

You clearly side with the players by highlighting the "agreement" of prorated pay.  However, there is much debate as to the specifics of the agreement.  One side says it was with the assumption fans would be in seats.  The other says it was not with that assumption.  If the owners are even close with the numbers they claim that 40% of revenue comes from fans in seats, then clearly the owners would have assumed the deal for full prorated was based on fans being in the seats.  I have not read the actual agreement, but have heard the two arguments and both seem to have some weight.  The important thing, is that the owners have the ability to pick the amount of games at the full prorated pay. 

 

You also mention the opt out of worried players, but fail to include the full pay for "high risk" players who opt out, and the players get to decided who is considered "high risk" with the league getting NO say.  Therefore, the players could say if any member of their family, even if they do not live with them but may come in contact with them is high risk the player can opt out for full pay.  So if they have a member of their family over 60 they could most likely opt out.  How many players do not have that? 

[Matthew Taylor]

This makes my head hurt.

[jkcarew]

A reckoning was coming at the end of the current CBA, regardless. The pandemic starts bringing things to a head sooner. Is it possible that if an agreement isn't reached to play in 2020, at least we surface the ugliness early enough to salvage an at-risk 2022 season? Revenue sharing and salary cap, anybody?

 

That's my glass half-full look at this depressing situation.