There seemed to be some momentum towards the 2020 season as MLB and MLBPA have been discussing possible options regarding issues from shut down. Even though they may start the season there is still the fight about player salaries. MLB and its players need to compromise on a plan soon or baseball and the fans will suffer.
MLB hopes Opening Day can place in early July, one of the main issues holding it back is that the players are wanting a hundred percent prorated salary for 2020. They want it regardless of how many games are being played, the owners are not wanting to do that. One way or another someone will have to give or baseball in 2020 could be doomed.
Plan
One of the main issues is the prorate of the players’ salary for the 2020 season. If there is a season with less than 80 games the owners are willing to give that hundred percent rate. If a season more than 100 games the percentage needs to go down. The owners will not be able to afford to meet the rate because the more games played the more losses they face. The fans will not be allowed at the games which will cause a loss in ticket sales.
It is easy for everyone to see where the players are coming from since nobody could have seen this coming. They will have to understand that the circumstances and the league are not getting as much revenue this year. For the smaller market teams, it could be worse as their sources of income are ticket sales. The player contracts could be affected also. Nolan Arenado’s contract with the Rockies is an example because after this the opt will not be in play and it will be harder to trade him. Surely other similar contracts will face the same fate.
Some teams are already trying to cut down the payroll because of the shut-down. They will get cheaper contracts and use them from the farm system. The free agent and trade market will suffer as teams will not be as willing to take on big money. Minor League players have been cut from teams as there will not be a 2020 season for them. The players think that the owners will want to budget even after all they are done cutting down payrolls.
The Compromise
The initial 82 game proposal by MLB was shot down when it did not include the prorate; a non- starter for the players who had their own proposal. 114 games with the 100 percent rate are what players and MLBPA want. This could be non -starter for the owners since they wanted 60 percent and fewer games. They both need to find a compromise as time is running short. As the other sports leagues are moving forward with plans MLB needs to follow suit.
They could meet in the middle with a 70 to 75 percent prorate for the players’ salary and maybe an 82 game season. Health and safety protocols need to be in place even though the players are being resistant. The players’ proposal did get rejected this week and it is not looking good right now.
The MLB season may in danger if there is not a compromise soon and fans are ready for baseball.
