The Pinstriped Baseball Lane

Did MLB and the MLBPA Find Common Ground?

Here we go again, the internal debate continues. As Adam Wells of bleachereport.com puts it, “There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel in the ongoing negotiations between Major League Baseball and the players for a 2020 campaign.” Hopefully, we are actually going all the way with this blueprint.

Multiple news outlets reported that there may be something in the works to actually get baseball back on the diamond soon.

News began coming out yesterday that thing were moving along. According ESPN’s Jeff Passan, it was reported that MLB has sent a new proposal to the union and this is “seen as significant progress considering where the parties were 48 hours ago” even though a deal hasn’t been fully put into action yet.

Personally, when a guy like Ken Rosenthal takes to Twitter and puts out information, I believe it. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal tweeted out the following information:

 

Ken Rosenthal✔@Ken_Rosenthal

Source: MLB proposal includes:

•60 games in 70 days
•Season starting July 19th/20th
•Full Prorated Salary
•Expanded Playoffs in 2020 and 2021
•Waiving of any potential grievance 15.7K 3:08 PM – Jun 17, 2020

It would be really nice to have baseball back up and running again, especially because it would provide a stress relief in these rough times.

Per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the owners and players are close to a deal for the season that will include prorated play and an expanded postseason.

Originally baseball was halted because the the ongoing spread of the corona virus, but it is the least of the problem when it comes to having baseball back on the field.

By now, everyone that follows baseball knows about the issue at hand. The main debate between MLB and the Players’ Union is the matter of prorated pay based on an agreement the two sides made in March, when it was unclear how long the season would be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The union wants a deal that provides language guaranteeing players full prorated salaries depending on the number of games played. The league’s proposals have included players receiving a percentage of prorated salary.

Now we see with this newly found common ground, there is full prorated salary. Along with the salary, in the deal, there is also an outline of 60 games in 70 days and a season beginning on July 19th or the 20th. Hopefully, this proposal will be the one that will clear the way for the return of baseball.

With a possible deal in the works that may benefit both sides, I am looking forward to having America’s Pastime return this summer. I can’t wait to see my Yankees in action against their opposition to obtain another title.