Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have been engaged in very public negotiations for months to create a plan for the 2020 season. Following the league’s latest offer, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen used a hilarious video to explain MLB’s approach to negotiations.
Players have been frustrated with MLB for months over negotiations for the 2020 season. Both sides agreed to a deal in March that would give players a prorated portion of their 2020 salary based on the number of games played.
However, once new negotiations began, MLB’s proposals asked players to take a percentage of their prorated salaries. Many of baseball’s top stars blasted the league for going back on the previous agreement and for suggesting players take an even greater financial cut, considering they would be the ones playing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout the process, the MLBPA has repeatedly proposed a longer season with players receiving their full prorated salary. Those offers were rejected, with MLB proposing a shorter 2020 season with players getting a fraction of their prorated pay.
After MLB submitted its latest proposal on Friday, McCutchen summed up the league’s approach with a hilarious comparison that likely captured how many of his peers are feeling.
It now seems unlikely that both sides will agree to a deal for a 2020 MLB season. At that point, commissioner Rob Manfred could implement his plan for a shortened season. Once that domino falls, multiple players reportedly plan to sit out this year.
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