Paul Konerko says MLBPA shouldn't be 'scapegoats' in battle with MLB
As MLB owners and the MLB Players Association remain at odds over negotiations to start a shortened season amid the coronavirus pandemic, former Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko has asked current players to remain strong during ongoing talks.
As Chuck Garfien of NBC Sports Chicago wrote, Konerko spoke about the battle between owners and the players during an appearance on the White Sox Talk Podcast.
(Konerko's comments begin around the 15:25 mark of the episode.)
"I think you have to do what’s right," Konerko said. "I feel like the players have bent over backwards in a lot of ways in the last few years on a lot of things. Sometimes you got to push back."
Konerko agrees players should receive full prorated pay for any length of season that could begin as early as July 10.
"It’s very simple for me," he explained. "They signed contracts to play baseball and play baseball games. If you make $10 million a year signing up to play 162 games, if you play 81 games you should make 5 million bucks."
Recently, owners offered 75 percent prorated salaries for a campaign that would, under the latest proposal, include a 76-game regular season, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
According to Spotrac's math, the gap between the owners and players isn't massive in the grand scheme of things:
Konerko also said he doesn't believe in any supposed doomsday situation for MLB if a deal doesn't get done and baseball doesn't return until next year.
"What I’m saying is I don’t think the players should be in a position to be the scapegoats to have to give so much to make a season happen," he said.
Owners have contended they shouldn't have to pay full prorated salaries for games likely to be played behind closed doors and without fans because of the uncontrolled virus outbreak.
However, with Ohio, Texas, Alabama, and Florida already welcoming spectators -- and other states, such as New Jersey and Nevada, likely to follow -- MLB ballparks may be allowed to hold decreased percentages of fans for games played over the summer.
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