The MLBPA also said that the two sides remain far apart on health and safety protocolsGETTY IMAGES
MLB's new player compensation plan that entails a sliding scale of compensation instead of a revenue-sharing structure was not well-received by the MLBPA, as the union said it was "extremely disappointed" in the proposal that involves massive additional pay cuts. The union also said the two sides remain far apart on health and safety protocols. At the heart of the dispute between the two sides is how much money owners will lose during an 82-game season played in empty ballparks, and therefore how much can owners afford to pay players? MLB believes it will generate some $3B in revenue during an 82-game season in empty ballparks. It believes paying players prorated salaries, as the union says was the agreement in March, based on an 82-game season would eat up some $2.4B of that. But the union is skeptical of MLB's revenue projections (Eric Prisbell, SBJ Unpacks).
BREAKING IT DOWN: In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes while all players "would be expected to take less than a prorated salary, the players with the highest salaries would lose the greatest percentage of pay." With players "already having agreed they would receive no pay for canceled games, the proposal set up a potential scenario for some of the game's greatest stars to play about 50% of the season for about 25% of their previously guaranteed salaries." The official statements from MLB and the MLBPA "did not exude compromise" (L.A. TIMES, 5/27). The AP's Ronald Blum notes under the plan given to the union yesterday, a player "would keep 90% of his salary up to the $563,500 big league minimum, including those with lower salaries while on optional or outright assignments in the minor leagues." MLB estimates '20 player salaries would drop from roughly $4B to $1.23B, including the postseason bonus pool (AP, 5/27).
IMMEDIATE BLOWBACK: ESPN.com's Passan & Rogers cited sources as saying that players "immediately bristled at the proposal, which includes an 82-game schedule that would begin in early July after a 21-day spring training." Teams "would play three exhibition games in the final week before starting a regular season that would finish Sept. 27." Sources said that the MLBPA is "expected to reject the plan and counter in the coming days with a proposal that could include a longer season" (ESPN.com, 5/26). Cardinals P and MLBPA Exec Board member Andrew Miller said, "We want to play. It's what we love to do. We also have principles and a responsibility to protect the rights of players. If this was truly about getting the game to the fans in 2020, we would have no issues finding that common ground. We will continue to work towards that, but I'm disappointed where they have started the discussion." USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes while the MLBPA "bristled at the proposal," MLB did adhere to the union's request of dropping their proposed 50-50 revenue sharing plan (USA TODAY, 5/27). One player said the new proposal is already "much better" than any revenue-sharing split. But ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers wrote that "doesn't make it likely they'll accept." Players "already believed they agreed to a prorated salary structure, so selling them on taking even less won't be easy," just "easier than a revenue-sharing proposal" (ESPN.com, 5/26).
CAN'T AFFORD LOST SEASON: THE ATHLETIC's Rosenthal & Drellich write the "best bet remains that the league and union will land in a similar place, if for no other reason than the cancellation of the 2020 season would damage both sides and leave the sport in perhaps an even worse position than it was after the strike of 1994-95." As "bad as the backlash was for that work stoppage, the public reaction to a lost season in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and a national economic crisis likely would be worse" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/27). In N.Y., Ken Davidoff writes it is time for MLB and the MLBPA to "cut a deal." The two sides have "about a week to virtually shake hands in agreement if they want to begin the season in early July." That "should be enough time for two antsy parties to realize how badly they need each other for self-preservation" (N.Y. POST, 5/27).
JOIN THE CLUB: In Boston, Peter Abraham writes the NBA is "moving steadily toward a well-considered plan to play its remaining games at Disney World." The NHL yesterday announced that it "would start a 24-team playoff." The NFL has "plowed ahead" and NASCAR has "started running races again." The PGA Tour is "back in business." Meanwhile, MLB "can't even get the little stuff right." The union "is at fault, too." Everybody else "found a way to make it work," and "now it's time for baseball" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/27). YAHOO SPORTS' Tim Brown wrote there "actually could be baseball." It "could actually be the first team sport back" and "could trim a few hours from the endless days." Owners "could make some of their money back," and players "could earn some" as well (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/26). ESPN's Passan said, “It’s not a great day for baseball, especially against the backdrop of the NHL announcing a plan to come back and the NBA looking like it’s going to go down to Disney World, here’s baseball fighting over money" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 5/27).
GET READY TO RUMBLE: On Long Island, David Lennon writes it is "important to remember one crucial element regarding baseball's often turbulent labor relations." This is "how the sausage gets made for this particular sport." It is "never a pretty process, and to think the negotiations would be any different this time, even in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, probably was a bit naive on our part." MLB's "warring factions are doing what they always do in these situations: bruise each other up before settling on a reluctant peace" (NEWSDAY, 5/27). In Ft. Worth, Jeff Wilson writes it "might be true that the union isn't satisfied with the proposal, but that dissatisfaction is also posturing in what figures to be a week's worth of an intense back-and-forth that needs to end with an agreement" (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/27). In Boston, Tom Keegan writes under the header, "Strict MLB Safety Proposal To Players A Stall Tactic" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/27).
