Players union 'extremely disappointed' with latest offer from MLB owners
On the same day NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Return-to-Play proposals agreed upon by the league and the NHL Players' Association for the completion of the 2019-20 season that was suspended on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic, it appears MLB and the MLBPA are no closer to a deal to start their season than they were on the morning of May 26.
On Tuesday afternoon, The Athletic's Evan Drellich tweeted that the players were "very disappointed" with the latest economic offer delivered by club owners:
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal added that this is merely the first step in the latest round of negotiations:
However, Joel Sherman of the New York Post didn't paint as rosy a picture, as he reported that the MLB and MLBPA are "far apart on the health/safety protocols" that must be agreed upon before talks regarding spring training sessions become serious:
Sherman added the union could counter or decide to stand firm and demand owners honor an agreement from March that promised players pro-rated salaries for a pandemic-shortened season:
With games likely to be played behind closed doors for the foreseeable future, owners want the players to renegotiate or otherwise void the March deal.
Last week, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman obtained an MLBPA internal memo that suggested owners were using media allies to "railroad" the union into accepting what players would deem an unfair agreement.
Heyman tweeted on Tuesday that stars may earn only 20 percent to 30 percent of their salaries for an 82-game regular season if they agree to the pay reductions currently offered by owners:
In short: While hockey fans can dream of a Stanley Cup Playoffs that could begin before mid-July, there is no joy in baseball's Mudville tonight.
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