NEW YORK (AP) Replay reviews could vanish in Major League Baseball
in 2020 as part of a deal with umpires that contemplates a possible
monastery setup in which off-the-field movement is restricted
because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The agreement, struck late Thursday night, covers how umpires would
be paid for a season shortened or wiped out by the virus outbreak,
two people told The Associated Press. They spoke Friday on
condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.
Umps are guaranteed 50% of their salaries for May, but would be
paid nothing else if no games are played in 2020. Umpires generally
make between $150,000 and $450,000.
The start of the season has been postponed because of the virus
outbreak and there is no timetable for opening day. If baseball is
permitted to proceed this year, MLB is considering playing
regular-season games at spring training ballparks in Arizona and
Florida that are not wired for replay.
The new agreement gives MLB the right to not use instant replays of
umpires decisions during the 2020 season. Most calls have been
subject to video review since 2014 and its become a big part of
games, with about half the challenged calls resulting in a reversal.
The controlled environment would include MLB-provided lodging and
meals, and it is called a “monastery setup” in the term sheet,
according to a copy of the four-page term sheet obtained by The
Associated Press.
MLB has discussed restricting the movement of players, team staff,
umpires and broadcast personnel as a method to keep them from being
infected. The people in the so-called bubble would be tested for
coronavirus on a regular basis.
In an environment without MLB-provided lodging and meals, umpires
per diem would be cut to $400. Umpires would remain responsible for
their room cost, but MLB would negotiate preferred hotel rates.
Retirement and benefits coverage would continue, even if there is
no season.
Umpires have already been paid from January through April and will
be paid at a 50% rate in May. If even one regular-season game is
played this season, the umps are guaranteed about one-third of
their salaries.
The umps will be paid a pro-rated share of their salaries based on
games over a 182-day season.
If the season is played in a controlled environment such as having
all teams and umpires limited to only ballparks and specified
hotels, umpires would receive the same per diems as MLB negotiates
with players,
In a statement, the MLB umpires’ union said it was “pleased” to
reach this agreement with the commissioner’s office.
In December, the umpires and MLB reached a deal to run through the
2024 season. As part of that agreement, umps agreed to cooperate
with MLB in the development and testing of an automated ball-strike
system.
Spring training began in late February and exhibition games in
Arizona and Florida were halted in mid-March because of the virus
outbreak. Computerized strike zones weren’t used during the
exhibitions.
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