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PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - A deal’s coming, a deal’s not coming. A deal is done, a deal is not done.
This week has been full of confusion for baseball fans and as of Thursday afternoon, we appear to be at another stalemate.
While the MLB season is still up in the air, Radio.com Sports insider Bob Nightengale is still 100 percent confident there will be baseball this summer, saying there is too much money at stake between players and owners.
The latest deal proposed by MLB would give players their full prorated salary with 60 games but the players say they want 70 games.
In addition the designated hitter would come to the National League in 2020 and 2021 and playoffs would be extended from 10 to 16 teams.
“They can’t agree on what they agree on,” said Nightingale after the latest discussions between Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA’s Tony Clark.
But the latest reports show that the number of games is the only issue that is stopping a deal from happening.
Nightengale believes that the number of games will likely end up being around 64, with the season starting around the end of July.
Players want a 70 games, which would likely extend the playoffs well into November, something he says television affiliates don’t want with football and other sports ramping up.
When it comes to safety protocols that will be in place if a season does get underway, Nightengale believes both owners and players can get that part done quickly.
While some believe the fans will come back when baseball comes back, Nightengale disagrees and says that it could take “decades” for the game to recovery.