MLB players counter league’s proposal by calling for 10 more games

MLB and the players' association are at least negotiating in the same language now.

After the news Wednesday that commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA head Tony Clark met in person to discuss a proposal of 60 games at full prorated pay, the players union has countered by proposing a 70-game season.

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

The players' proposal also calls for a split of postseason revenues, according to ESPN. It was quickly rejected by the league.

The midpoint of 65 games is the length many expect for the 2020 regular season.

MLB’s 60 game offer would pay players in just salary roughly $1.51B. PA’s 70-game bid would be $1.757 billion. That is a $247M-ish gap. It is not nothing. It is another $8.23M per team. But there is a pathway here if the sides want to take it.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 18, 2020

"We left that meeting with a jointly developed framework that we agreed could form the basis of an agreement," Manfred said in a statement Wednesday.

MLB's proposal involved a couple of big concessions from the union. A source confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia that the union reportedly will not file a grievance against MLB and the postseason will be expanded to 16 teams (up from 10) in 2020 and 2021. Postseasons generate significant revenues with much of them going to the owners. Those revenues could help make up for losses incurred this season.

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MLB would like to end the regular season by the end of September and contain the postseason to the month of October to avoid a potential fall flareup of the coronavirus. It is also concerned about vying for television attention with the Presidential election in early November.

If the two sides can get to the finish line in the coming days — as is expected — the season would likely commence on July 19. Teams could be in training camps by the end of June. The Phillies will hold their training camp at Citizens Bank Park and utilize other area fields if needed.

Once the season starts, teams would play in empty stadiums. Those restrictions could be loosened later in the season, based on the advice of public health experts.

Jim Salisbury contributed to this report.

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