Report: MLBPA proposes 114-game season in counterproposal

Major League Baseball finally has received a counterproposal from the Players Association, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan, and it proposed a 114-game season beginning on June 30.

The season would end on Oct. 31 and include a two-year playoff expansion from 10 teams to 14 teams, the right for players to opt out of the season and a potential deferral of salaries if the postseason were to be canceled.

If players were to opt out, only those who are at a higher risk for COVID-19 would receive their salaries, others would not be paid.

MLB has been targeting July as a potential start date, and it could be pretty difficult to cram 114 games into four months. Players would have to be okay with doubleheaders and fewer off days, but they stated nothing of that nature in their counterproposal.

The league and Players Association have been struggling to come to an agreement, and players are concerned about health, safety and pay cuts, among other things. Owners made their proposal to the union last week, suggesting a "sliding scale" salary structure, but the players didn't like the suggestion.

MLB is expected to dismiss the counterproposal, according to Passan, but the two sides are going to need to work something out if they expect to have a 2020 season.