Whenever the 2020 MLB begins, it will more than likely be played without fans in the stands. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

MLB owners might not be locked into revenue sharing?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/19/20

Maybe there's a slight glimmer of hope for some version of a 2020 MLB season amid the coronavirus pandemic breaking through the clouds.

Earlier on Tuesday, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that owners had presented the MLB Players Association with two proposals for a shortened season:

MLB in recent talks gave the union 2 options: 1) negotiate a new financial arrangement (sonething other than prorated pay for players playing games with no fans in attendance) or 2) wait until the Coronavirus yo clear to the point where fans can attend games.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 19, 2020

MLB has been espousing a 50-50 revenue split behind the scenes but no formal proposal has been made to players yet. In any case, players do seem very much resolved not to agree to a revenue sharing proposal on principle (they view at as a form of salary cap, and a bad precedent)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 19, 2020

It appears owners might not be married to the idea of a 50-50 revenue split that the players would likely reject.

SNY's Andy Martino is reporting MLB could shelve the often-mentioned revenue-sharing proposal in favor of broader pay reductions. Since MLB and the MLBPA agreed salaries would be pro-rated for a season shortened by the pandemic back in March, such a secondary arrangement could allow the players to save face without caving while still acknowledging both parties must sacrifice earnings to complete a campaign that likely will involve games played behind closed doors and without fans at ballparks for the foreseeable future.

Also on Tuesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post wrote about an email sent by an MLB attorney on March 26 that documented a conversation between league executives and union officials. That email allegedly shows that the MLBPA understood, at the time, that future negotiations and additional pay cuts would be necessary if it's determined games are to be played without spectators.

The German Bundesliga, NASCAR, UFC, and golf all held live events televised in the U.S. over the weekend, placing added pressure on North American team sports to figure things out and provide audiences with games to avoid feelings of contempt from individuals who have lost more than just forms of entertainment during the pandemic.

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