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As expected, the player’s union rejected the latest owner’s offer for playing the 2020 season. According to reports, they are taking a swing of their own:
The MLBPA is making a proposal to MLB for a season of around 89 games with a full prorated share of salary and expanded playoffs, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN. It would bring the sides closer to a potential deal and is ~25 games under the last union offer.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 9, 2020
The proposal is for 89 games, not around 89, and is 25 fewer than the union’s last proposal of 114 games at full pro rata, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 9, 2020
These are all steps in the right direction, then a bigger piece of the puzzle revealed itself:
Eighty nine game season proposed by players would start on July 10 and end on Oct. 11, per a source. Includes expanded postseason for 2020 AND 2021.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 9, 2020
Giving the owners the carrot of expanded playoffs is a big deal. With the owners depending on the revenue that playoffs bring as a way to bridge the gap on lost finances this year and next, it’s a way for the players to try and find a middle ground.
This really puts pressure on the owners by adding 2021. Which ostensibly makes having expanded playoffs in the next labor deal an easy bargaining point for future years. https://t.co/aqPwOUNZIu
— Maury Brown (@BizballMaury) June 10, 2020
Stay tuned for more.