Major League Baseball has offered the players' association a return-to-play proposal that includes a 72-game campaign, with players receiving 70% of prorated salaries for regular season and 80% if playoffs are completed, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Under the new plan, the 2020 season would begin around July 14 and end on Sept. 27, Rosenthal notes.
The league will once again offer an option to suspend draft-pick compensation for next offseason, according to Rosenthal, who adds that MLB would announce a timeline for resumption of play within 48 hours of approval, including a spring training of at least 21 days. All players would reportedly have the right to opt out, and high-risk major leaguers would be paid.
The proposal includes eight postseason teams per league, and players would receive equivalent of 83% of prorated salaries, including additional money from the postseason pool if the playoffs are completed, Rosenthal reports.
Rosters would also expand to 30 for the first two weeks, 28 for the two weeks thereafter, and 26 for the remainder of the campaign, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Each team would reportedly keep a group of 60 players to use throughout the year.
MLB has told the MLBPA that Friday’s offer expires Sunday, according to Evan Drellich of The Athletic.
The league's reported proposal is a counter to the MLBPA's offer from Tuesday that is believed to be based on an 89-game campaign with full prorated salaries.
Both sides likely have about five days or so to agree to a deal before MLB would implement a shorter season, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
The deadlock over player pay is reportedly a key hurdle that has stalled talks.
MLB’s new offer to the players' union is roughly equivalent to what major leaguers would receive in a 50-game season at full prorated pay, sources told Drellich.
Meanwhile, commissioner Rob Manfred is hopeful he won't have to use his power to unilaterally implement a schedule of about 50 contests.
"The best thing for our sport is to reach a negotiated agreement (with the MLBPA)," Manfred said Wednesday.
