MLBPA Counters With An 89-Game Season Following League’s 76-Game Season Offer

After Major League Baseball offered a 76-game season with 75% prorated salaries, the MLB Players Association has once again proposed a counter offer. 

Late Tuesday night, the MLBPA proposed a season of 89 games, which would give the players full prorated salaries, as well as an expanded playoffs. This offer sees 25 fewer games from the players previous offer, but what seems to be the major sticking point for the players is to receive their full salaries for the 2020 season.

MLB’s offer that included full prorated salaries had a season that would be only around 50 games. The thing for the league is that they want the regular season to end no later than September 27, so that the playoffs can be held in October and not go too far into the winter. The MLBPA’s latest offer would have the regular season start July 10 and end October 11.

Simply put, at this point in these negotiations, it will be on the owners to decide how many games they are willing to play where players will receive their full salaries.

Unfortunately for the players, they are unable to strike until they receive a deal they like, because it would be a breach of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the MLBPA and MLB. Also with the current CBA expiring in 2021, it makes reaching an agreement soon even more important.

If things get prolonged even further, the MLB can implement a schedule it desires, regardless of whether or not the players agree and it has been said that season would be about 48 games.