Insiders: MLB, players union making progress on season deal as clock ticks

MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred
Photo credit AP Photo

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UPDATED: 3:20 p.m.

One day after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said he and players union Executive Director Tony Clark "developed a framework that we agreed could form the basis of an agreement," the Players Association responded by counter-proposing a 70-game schedule for the coronavirus-delayed baseball season.

Clark's statement on Thursday said, "We believe this offer represents the basis for an agreement on resumption of play."

Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/7chF9EafMO

— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 18, 2020

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Previously reported by KYW Newsradio:
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After meeting face to face with the players union leader on Tuesday, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred thought they walked away with a framework for an agreement to play a coronavirus pandemic-delayed season in empty ballparks, with full prorated pay for players.
According to an MLB statement released Wednesday, Manfred said both he and Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark had terms they could sell to their respective sides in the ongoing labor dispute. 

Rob Manfred’s statement today on his discussions with Tony Clark #MLB pic.twitter.com/uqvePc77vi

— Dave Uram (@MrUram) June 17, 2020

“Consistent with our conversation yesterday, I am encouraging the Clubs to move forward and I trust Tony is doing the same," Manfred said.

But RADIO.COM Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman told KYW Newsradio on Thursday that some players see the framework as another proposal, subject to more bargaining — not a deal. 

“Right now they’re not really agreeing on whether there was an agreement,” Heyman said. 

People familiar with the details told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that those terms include 60 games played over 10 weeks, starting either July 19 or 20. Players would receive roughly 37% of their original salaries. The playoffs would expand from 10 to 16 teams. There would be a universal designated hitter. And the union would waive additional claims that it could file a grievance. 

With MLB finally acceding to pay the full prorated salaries agreed upon March 26, it sounds like progress. However, players are still dissatisfied. 

“The owners seem to love the idea,” fellow RADIO.COM Sports MLB Insider Bob Nightengale told SportsRadio 94WIP’s Joe Giglio. “The players, well not so much.”

“They'd like to see a 70-game season,” Nightengale said. “Their thoughts are, if you start July 19, that’s ... 71 days on a calendar between July 19 and Sept. 27. So, why not squeeze in more games?”

Just days earlier, the league had offered the players a 72-game seasons at less than 100% prorated salaries.

“We’ll see how far the union wants to take this,” he said. “I mean, Rob Manfred could still go back and say, ‘OK, I’m gonna mandate a season. It’s gonna be 50 or 54 games, less money. Up to you.’ Or could say, ‘No season,’ for that matter.

Only time will tell where this leaves the 2020 baseball season. Heyman and Nightengale believe that, although no firm agreement has been struck, the latest discussions made progress.

“It’s a little tricky right now,” Heyman said. “It’s certainly messy, but they’re at least close.”

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.