Report: 'No economic proposals exchanged' between MLB, MLBPA on Friday
It appears we'll enter June no closer to MLB and the MLB Players Association agreeing to terms for the start of the 2020 big-league season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, The Athletic's Evan Drellich, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, Joel Sherman of the New York Post, and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, among others, reported on the "disappointment" felt by the players regarding the recent economic proposal submitted by league owners.
The two sides are battling over a March agreement that offered the players pro-rated salaries for a pandemic-shortened season in the event fans could attend future games. With games likely to be played behind closed doors and without spectators, though, owners have reportedly asked players to accept a revenue split and amend or void the March deal.
On Friday afternoon, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeted that no economic proposals were exchanged between owners and the MLBPA during Friday talks:
While things could change over the weekend, Nightengale's update suggests the sides won't put pen to paper on an agreement before or on the June 1 "soft deadline" reported by Heyman and others.
Meanwhile, the NHL is advancing toward its 24-team model to crown a Stanley Cup champion, with training camps possibly opening on or shortly after July 10.
Also on Friday, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported the NBA is targeting a return-to-play date of July 31, meaning the Association and NHL theoretically could resume the same weekend.
More must-reads: