Jon Heyman: MLB wants spring training to start June 10
Soon after reports surfaced on Twitter that the MLB Players Association was "extremely disappointed" with the economic offer delivered by owners on Tuesday for the start of the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman leaked a couple of dates to keep an eye on over the next few weeks.
Per Heyman, a "soft" deadline for negotiations between the union and owners is set for June 1, with the hope that spring training 2.0 can begin on June 10:
Theoretically, individual clubs can handle spring training preparations as they wish. Last week, Heyman tweeted the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers are among teams planning to hold spring training at their home ballparks.
The New York Yankees and New York Mets, meanwhile, intend to send players and team personnel to Florida for their resumed preseason schedules.
This assumes MLB and the MLBPA will sign a deal on or around June 1. The Athletic's Evan Drellich, Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and Heyman reported on Tuesday the two sides aren't close to an agreement regarding financial aspects of a pandemic-shortened season and, as Sherman tweeted, "health/safety protocols" necessary for playing during an uncontrolled virus outbreak.
Heyman added that top-tier stars may have to accept massive pay reductions, but that the two sides don't want to see the season canceled merely because of money:
The owners are awaiting a counter from the MLBPA:
Also on Tuesday, New York Mets starting pitcher Marcus Stroman tweeted "this season is not looking promising" in response to updates on negotiations between the players and owners.
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