MLB and the MLBPA have reached a tentative agreement on “key economic issues in hopes of salvaging the majority of the 162-game season,” and team owners will vote today “to officially ratify the agreement,” according to sources. The deal includes a commitment “to play as close to a full regular-season schedule as possible, with games in October and a postseason in November.” The two sides have discussed the idea of “expanding the current playoff format to help offset the loss of income, while acknowledging that if cold weather becomes an issue in November, they could move the World Series and playoff series from cold-weather cities to a neutral site” (USA TODAY, 3/27).
Part of the deal has players agreeing to an advance of $170M -- less than 4% “of their total salaries in a full season -- and prorated salaries for whatever portion of the season is played.” If the season is canceled, the players “keep the advance but cannot sue for the remainder of their salaries.” In exchange, and again in the event of a canceled season, owners “agreed to credit players that earned a full year of service time last year with a full year of service time this year” (L.A. TIMES, 3/27).
