While the NBA is basically set to restart its season in Orlando, Major League Baseball and the MLBPA remain in a frustrating financial stalemate that has the season in doubt.
But, briefly, there was hope on Wednesday. And I mean briefly.
Following reports that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred held a face-to-face meeting with MLBPA head Tony Clark in Arizona, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweeted that the two sides were finally closing in on an agreement to start the season. According to Heyman, the owners agreed to to the players’ demands for a full prorated salary — though the number of games were unclear. There would also be an expanded postseason.
It seemed like great news.
Breaking: MLB and players union are closing in on an agreement to play the 2020 season, via players. Deal expected to be for prorated pay and include expanded playoffs.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
As part of the pending agreement to play the 2020 season between MLB and the players union, the union has agreed to waive any grievance.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
But shortly after Heyman posted his report, other members of the baseball media shared updates that conflicted with the immediate optimism of Heyman’s report. Basically, the MLBPA had just received a proposal. The two sides were not close to a deal.
Source says no deal is close yet between MLB and MLBPA beccause the proposal was just sent by MLB. No agreement even in principle at this point.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 17, 2020
There is no agreement between MLB and the MLBPA. MLB knows players must get full pro rata. League wants players to waive right to grieve. Expanded playoffs a part of this. Number of games is vital. Other issues, too. There is work to be done. But a pathway to a deal does exist.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 17, 2020
MLB players were also confused by Heyman’s reporting as several tweeted that they hadn’t seen any proposal from the owners.
Yeah we gonna see. 🙄 https://t.co/RobKBT1KgA
— Delino DeShields (@LinoDeShields) June 17, 2020
Y’all need to stop leaking false information and getting everybody’s hopes up. Don’t say s*** until there’s a done deal period.
— Delino DeShields (@LinoDeShields) June 17, 2020
I believe it when I see it…
— Willson Contreras (@WContreras40) June 17, 2020
— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) June 17, 2020
Twitter’s a wild ride
— Whit Merrifield (@WhitMerrifield) June 17, 2020
MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to disagree.
— Ty Kelly (@tykelly11) June 17, 2020
Yet, Heyman’s report did more than enough to get the hopes up of baseball fans across the internet.
WE MIGHT HAVE BASEBALL SOON https://t.co/g10V3RanDU
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) June 17, 2020
oh hell yeah https://t.co/FCqqkyB1Kz
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) June 17, 2020
Good thing MLB acted like idiots and wasted a month or more when they could have been ramping up to play. https://t.co/O38LoXxJ7f
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 17, 2020
LET'S PLAY BALL! https://t.co/bIC3XflIEW
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) June 17, 2020
🤞🏼please don’t mess this up🤞🏼 https://t.co/nEwPmnVFCi
— Dubs (@MikeDubsRadio) June 17, 2020
The reporting from Jeff Passan and others, though, eventually led to the MLBPA putting out a statement to confirm that no agreement had been reached.
Reports of an agreement are false.
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 17, 2020
Despite the statement, Heyman still claimed that a deal was at hand.
Very positive words. The key players are understandably being cautious in light of the difficulty of these negotiations, but deal is at hand. https://t.co/lh2A3EeecZ
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
According to Ken Rosenthal, the league’s proposal will look awfully like what Red pitcher Trevor Bauer expected: a 60-game season.
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— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 17, 2020
It remains to be seen if the MLBPA will agree with those terms. So, despite that wild 30 minutes on Twitter, baseball isn’t back yet.
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