NEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball owners gave the go-ahead Monday
to making a proposal to the players union that could lead to the
coronavirus-delayed season starting around the Fourth of July
weekend in ballparks without fans, a plan that envisioned expanding
the designated hitter to the National League for 2020.
Spring training would start in early to mid-June, a person familiar
with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on
condition of anonymity because details of the plan were not
announced.
Each team would play about 82 regular-season games: against
opponents in its own division plus interleague matchups limited to
AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central and AL West vs. NL
West.
by doubling wild cards in each league to four.
Teams would prefer to play at their regular-season ballparks but
would switch to spring training stadiums or neutral sites if
medical and government approvals cannot be obtained for games at
home. Toronto might have to play home games in Dunedin, Florida.
The All-Star Game, scheduled for Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on
July 14, likely would be called off.
Teams will propose that players receive the percentage of their
2020 salaries based on a 50-50 split of revenues MLB receives
during the regular-season and postseason, which likely will be
among the most contentious aspects of the proposal during
negotiations with the players association.
That proposal would take into account fans being able to return to
ballparks at some point, perhaps with a small percentage of seats
sold at first and then gradually increasing.
Rosters would be expanded from 26 to around 30. With minor leagues
shuttered, there likely will be the addition of about 20 players
per club akin to the NFLs practice squad.
MLB officials are slated to make a presentation to the union on
Tuesday.
that called for each player to receive only a portion of salary,
determined by what percentage of a 162-game schedule is played. As
part of that deal, if no season is played each player would receive
2020 service time matching what the player earned in 2019.
But that deal is contingent there being no restrictions on mass
gatherings at the federal, state, city and local level; no relevant
travel restrictions in the U.S. and Canada; and Commissioner Rob
Manfred after consulting the union and medical expects, determines
there is no risk to playing in front of fans at regular-season
ballparks.
Players and teams committed to discuss in good faith the economic
feasibility of playing games in the absence of spectators or at
appropriate neutral sites. Manfred has said about 40% of MLB
revenue is tied to gate, including concessions, parking, ballpark
advertising, luxury suites and programs.
as setting economic terms and say they have no inclination for
additional cuts. Players are more interested in medical protocols
and testing designed to protect them from and detect the new
coronavirus. The proposal will detail the plan for dealing with
players and staff who test positive.
Because players accrue salaries for the regular season only and not
for spring training or the postseason, the union may counter by
asking for more regular-season games during negotiations that could
significantly alter or possibly even scuttle the restart plan.
The DH was adopted by the American League for the 1973 season but
has been resisted by National League owners. The players union has
favored it because it would create more jobs for high-paying
hitters in their 30s, by MLB has looked at it as an economic issue.
However, money has disappeared as an issue at this stage for 2020
because nearly all veteran players have agreed to contracts. Yasiel
Puig is the most notable exception.
—
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