Like everyone else, he’s witnessed the continuing disagreement between Major League Baseball and the Players Association over how to conduct the 2020 coronavirus-delayed season. The two sides can’t agree on the twin issues of how to pay the players and how many games should be played.
Amaro told KYW Newsradio that both sides should be focused first on baseball fans right now.
Amaro says he's disappointed that the concept of playing in empty ballparks wasn’t locked down better in a March 26 agreement between the owners and the players. That agreement called for players to be paid prorated salaries based on the number of games played. But MLB believes the two sides would be able to negotiate further if it became clear fans would not be in the stands after the season started. The union has stuck firm to not accepting further pay cuts.
The owners have finally agreed to pay the players their full pro rata, but during a 60-game regular season schedule, according to the Associated Press. But the players want 70 games, so they can get paid more.
“I was concerned when things got very public. When it gets public, it makes it very, very difficult to get a deal done.”
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If the two sides can’t agree, Manfred has the power to force a significantly shorter schedule—believed to be around 50-odd games or so. No one wants that. If that happens, the league is concerned about the union filing a grievance.
Fans are frustrated enough. They simply want an agreement to happen so the season can start as soon and as safely as possible.
“I think it’ll hurt the sport if there’s not a negotiated deal done,” Amaro said.
He predicted there will end up being a schedule between 60 to 65 games, but he’s hoping for 70, or something closer to that.
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