SLAENT MLB 2020 Season/Offseason 2021 Thread | Don't Worry, We Have a Plan

By rodeoclown Go To PostReally hard for me to see how baseball comes back right now when they're trying to not pay players and laying off minor leaguers and front office staffers to save peanuts.

The MLBPA has submitted their proposal to Major League Baseball.

As expected, the MLBPA does not back down from a refusal to accept a revenue-based system. The proposal calls for a 114-game season; up from the 82-games proposed by MLB in their outline. It also would allow salaries to be deferred for up to two years if there is no postseason due to another shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan also would expand the playoffs in both the 2020 and 2021 season; something that has been discussed to increase revenue for the sport to make up for the lost games and lack of fans in stadiums. Perhaps the most significant part of the proposal calls for any player being able to opt-out of playing, but only players that are considered "high-risk" would be paid and the rest would be credited only with service time. Jeff Passan of ESPN also reports that the proposal would call for the season to begin on June 30; earlier than the MLB suggestion of early July. It's a vastly different plan from the one suggested by the owners, but at the very least there is now something from both sides to continue the serious negotiations that will have to take place if there's going to be a season.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Major League Baseball "said it would not send a counter" to the union's proposal of a 114-game season.

Rosenthal, in the same tweet, writes that "the league said it has started talks with owners about playing a shorter season without fans, and that it is ready to discuss additional ideas with the union." The idea of trying to fit in 114 games – and to pay the players full prorated salary shares for those 114 games – is apparently a non-starter for MLB's ownership groups. These negotiations are playing out very publicly, with the help (or hurt?) of social media, and the best hope remains that the two sides will wind up agreeing to around 80 regular season games with expanded playoffs and some amount of deferred pay. That agreement probably needs to be in place relatively soon if there is hope of games getting underway in early July.

1. If teams were to pay players a full prorated portion of their salaries, it would cost around $1,674,800 per game. The union and league both accept this figure.

2. In a financial statement MLB provided to the union, the league suggested every game played would generate $980,000 in local television revenue. Over the course of a 162-game season, that would total $2,381,400,000. In a 48-game season, that amounts to $705,600,000 in local TV revenue. For 82 games, it would be $1,205,400,000. While the union disputes MLB's accounting in a number of areas – and rightly points out that the local TV revenue numbers do not include teams' valuable ownership stakes in their regional sports networks – it is generally believed that actual local TV revenue is in the $2.4 billion range.

3. The league in its financial statement said that for every game played in 2020, teams would combine to lose $640,000. The union has not validated this claim and has requested documentation from MLB to verify it. A simple equation – full pro rata salary minus local TV revenue – leaves a loss of $694,800 per game. Considering teams could generate a combined $54,800 per game in other revenues to bridge the gap between the difference, both will be considered going forward.

The per-game loss is an important number because it gives a sense of what owners are willing to lose in game-day revenue to put on a season. The league says 40% of revenue comes from tickets, concessions, parking and other game-day purchases. (Other estimates have pegged the number slightly lower.) Because the league plans to play games without fans in stadiums due to coronavirus concerns, a significant portion of its standard revenue vanishes. This is the basis for owners' arguments that they are better off playing fewer games.

Still, a 48-games-per-team schedule would leave a 720-game season. At MLB's self-reported loss of $640,000 per game, a 48-game season means the league would be willing to lose $460,800,000.

The players desire a longer season. More games played means more games paid – and a closer facsimile of a representative season. After rejecting MLB's initial proposal of an 82-game season with an insulting pay cut – an offer that furthered discord between the sides – the union answered with a plan for 114 games at full pro rata. That was almost equally outlandish and was rejected by the league, which informed the union it would happily pay full pro rata at a schedule of its desired length.

Regardless of the number of games played, MLB's plans include a regular season that would end around Sept. 27. The league predicates the date on fears of a potential second wave of the coronavirus wiping out the playoffs, a cash cow MLB said in its financial presentation is worth nearly $800 million in media rights. Having staked out that position publicly via surrogates – Arizona owner Ken Kendrick said as much on a Phoenix radio station Tuesday – the league is unlikely to relent. If it did, it would look like it were treating player and employee health as a financial bargaining chip, a macabre optic for a sport already fighting a torrent of bad publicity.

Accordingly, between the time it might take to settle on a deal and the September cutoff, an 82-game season might be the most players can hope for. Seeing as they would settle for a full pro rata at 1,230 total games, the projected losses from owners based on the $640,000-per-game figure is crucial for this exercise: $787,200,000. Compared to the projected losses owners would face in the 48-game season they're ready to rubber-stamp, playing an 82-game season would cost $326,400,000 more.

And there you have it. Distilled to the simplest form, Major League Baseball is in crisis because of a $326 million problem.

By blackace Go To Postif Hancock falls to 6 that better be our pick

ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the MLBPA has rejected and will not counter the league's current offer for the 2020 season.

Instead, Passan says, the union is asking the league to determine how many games it intends to play and when players should report. The belief is that MLB desires a season of around 50 games if it has to pay the players their full prorated salaries. Unless something changes, MLB will set the schedule and the union will subsequently file a grievance, arguing that the league hasn't held up its end of the bargain to play as many games as it safely could.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that a schedule implemented by commissioner Rob Manfred would have a number of games that "start(s) with a five."

Well, that's… something. ESPN's Jeff Passan has reported that a Manfred-mandated schedule would consist of 48 games, but it appears we might get a few more games than that. The likelihood of Manfred exercising his right to implement a schedule is increasing by the day with MLB and the MLBPA continuing to bicker back and forth.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN on Monday that he is "not confident" there will be a 2020 baseball season.

Manfred said less than a week ago, during ESPN's live coverage of the 2020 MLB Draft, that he was "100 percent" certain baseball would be played this year, but negotiations between the owners and the union have apparently broken down completely in the days since. "It's just a disaster for our game, absolutely no question about it," Manfred told ESPN's Mike Greenberg on Monday. "It shouldn't be happening, and it's important that we find a way to get past it and get the game back on the field for the benefit of our fans … I'm not confident. I think there's real risk; and as long as there's no dialogue, that real risk is gonna continue." Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times adds that MLB sent a letter to the MLBPA on Monday stating that there would be no 2020 season unless the players waive "any legal claims against the league." Specifically, the owners are worried about the union filing an immediate grievance should Manfred implement a schedule of around 50-60 games when there is still time to fit in 70-80 games. Maybe these most recent comments from Manfred are meant to serve as a delay tactic. Either way, this whole thing is a giant mess for the sport.

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark released a statement Monday condemning the recent suggestion by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred that there might not be a 2020 baseball season.

The full statement, via the MLBPA's Twitter account: "Players are disgusted that after Rob Manfred unequivocally told players and fans that there would be '100%' a 2020 season, he has decided to go back on his word and is now threatening to cancel the entire season. Any implication that the Players Association has somehow delayed progress on health and safety protocols is completely false, as Rob has recently acknowledged the parties are 'very, very close.' This latest threat is just one more indication that Major League Baseball has been negotiating in bad faith since the beginning. This has always been about extracting additional pay cuts from the players and this is just another day and another bad faith tactic in their ongoing campaign.”

By Perfect Blue Go To PostBaseball owners and Manfred hate baseball. Why tf does MLB have the WORST owners and commissioner out of all American sports? Fuck this

By rodeoclown Go To PostI have severe doubts about Manfred "winning" this fight considering how powerful the MLBPA is.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Major League Baseball "is strongly considering closing all 30 camps again."

The Phillies, Blue Jays, and Giants have already shuttered their spring training facilities – in Florida and Arizona, respectively – due to either coronavirus concerns or actual positive diagnoses. Sherman says MLB would look to "cleanse and re-establish a system in which players will test regularly when they return." There are no official protocols in place for players utilizing these facilities, as Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have yet to come together on a financial and/or health agreement.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Major League Baseball will not make a counter-offer to the union's latest 70-game proposal.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman suggested earlier on Friday that a number of "hardline owners" are refusing to budge off a maximum of 60 games with full prorated pay. As these financial squabbles continue, the COVID-19 pandemic remains the biggest obstacle to staging a 2020 baseball season. Multiple teams have already closed their spring training 2.0 sites as positive diagnoses rise around the country, and Major League Baseball is reportedly considering shutting down all 30 camps and trying a fresh restart.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the union’s executive board has moved its conference call and vote on the 2020 season until 5 p.m. ET.

Sherman notes that there has been some contact between the commissioner's office and the union, so it appears that some real conversation is going on here. As ESPN's Buster Olney puts it, there are efforts being made to avoid MLB commissioner Rob Manfred simply imposing a season if the players vote down the 60-game framework. Per Jim Bowden of The Athletic, there are a variety of factors at play with this offer, including no guaranteed pay if no season is played, no salary advance relief, playoff pool money, and the elimination of the universal DH and expanded playoffs for 2021 if fewer than 50 games are played this year. As it stands, players would have the ability to file a grievance if they object, even if Manfred implements a season. Obviously MLB would like to avoid that, but the players surely don't want to waive their ability to do that. It would have to be the right deal. It sounds like we should soon finally know one way or the other where this is headed. Buckle up.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale is hearing that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred will not make the decision to implement a season on Monday night or even Tuesday.

Manfred is presumably in no hurry to make an announcement because the owners want a very short regular season (between 48-60 games) and can reach that goal by stalling and letting days on the calendar tick by. It's seemingly been their goal from the jump, which could be the basis of a grievance by the players if or when Manfred implements his mandated schedule. Manfred and the owners are holding a conference call on Monday night, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. They could feasibly restart negotiations with the players during this stall, but that seems like a pipe dream at this point.
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According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, there is a "strong expectation" that the players will approve the health and safety protocol along with MLB's proposed July 1 report date for spring training 2.0.

Passan notes, however, that it's hard to trust that anything has actually been agreed upon until the ink is dry on the necessary documents. The rampant public posturing in the negotiations between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association has left us all cynical. The players will presumably vote on the health/safety measures and MLB's proposed schedule dates on Tuesday morning or afternoon, as the league wants a response by Tuesday evening – at 5 p.m. ET, to be exact. It sounds like baseball will ultimately give it a go amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still a big threat to at some point halt the whole thing. The plan is for a 60-game regular season, beginning around the weekend of July 24-27.

The Phillies announced Tuesday that one additional player and two additional staff members in Clearwater, Florida tested positive for COVID-19.

The team also announced that one player not in Clearwater tested positive. This comes after five Phillies players and three staff members at the team's facility tested positive late last week. The team tested 32 individuals (12 staff members and 20 players) after the initial outbreak, leading to today's announcement. At minimum, this is a reminder that the road to starting and completing a season this year is going to be a difficult one.

By Perfect Blue Go To PostSo apparently the Jays are supposed to play our "home" games at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.

Bro just cancel the season if that happens wtf

The MLBPA stated Tuesday that all issues between it and the league have been resolved and players have been cleared to report to camp.

Players are due in camp by July 1 for a 60-game season that's slated to begin 3 1/2 weeks later on or about July 24. While it's unclear how many true exhibition games will be played next month, there's certain to be plenty of news, as some players return from injury and others suffer new afflictions. There's also likely to be a number of players opting to sit out the season. As part of the safety regulations, players deemed high risk or who live with high-risk individuals can opt out and still receive their salaries and service time.

MLB announced that the regular season is slated to begin July 23 and 24.

The 60-game slate is expected to conclude on Sept. 27. There had been much talk of abandoning the traditional divisions and leagues this year, but that's been set aside. Instead, teams will play 40 games within their divisions and the remaining 20 games against the corresponding division in the other league. So, the Yankees will play the Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles 10 times apiece and then presumably face each of the NL East teams four times. It's a schedule that would seem to benefit the Central teams, especially the Twins and Indians in the AL.

Rockies players Charlie Blackmon, Phillip Diehl and Ryan Castellini have tested positive for COVID-19 following workouts at Coors Field, the Denver Post reports.

So it begins. The Post says that only one of the three players has proven symptomatic to date, though it's unclear which of the three that is. Diehl and Castellini are long shots for the Rockies' Opening Day roster, but Blackmon is a mainstay, of course.

Dodgers president Andrew Friedman said Thursday that there are members in the organization that tested positive for COVID-19.

Friedman didn't reveal the exact number or whether they were players or coaches, etc. He did say that none of those who tested positive had "problematic" symptoms.

…
How many players are going to test positive next week upon the intake screening before training camps open?
League personnel, team officials and players are readying for a deluge of positives – both in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing that detects whether a person currently has COVID-19 and the antibody testing that identifies past infection.

Nearly 1,800 players are expected to report to camps. A large number live in Arizona, Florida, Texas and California, four states with recent spikes. Others are flying in from countries around the world. To think that baseball will somehow be immune – that it differs demonstrably from the general population – would be naive.

At the screening, players will submit saliva for the PCR test and blood for the antibody test. COVID-positive players could number 25, 50, 100, more. Those who do test positive via the PCR test will immediately isolate until they fulfill certain measures:

* Two negative COVID-19 tests, taken at least 24 hours apart
* No fever for at least 72 hours (while not using fever-suppressing medicine) and no respiratory symptoms, as judged by a doctor or team medical staff
* Team physician and a joint committee consisting of two doctors and one non-medical representative from MLB and the MLBPA deem that the person does not pose a risk of spreading infection

Other potential snags exist. Individuals must satisfy local health requirements. Team doctors can ask for a cardiac evaluation. Contact tracing for the positive individual will take place. Those who have been in his or her presence must self-isolate until a negative result on a COVID test is returned. They'll undergo more frequent temperature testing for 10 days and cannot return unless they're asymptomatic.

That's a lot.
It's just the start. And it has to be if baseball is played in 2020.

Then why play?
That's not an unreasonable question. The answer is that players say they want to, owners say they want to, federal officials want them to and local health officials have yet to say they can't. There was a very simple binary at hand: season or no season. Baseball chose season.

Everyone involved recognizes that baseball in 2020 – sports in 2020 – is a house of cards. All it takes is one municipality to threaten the entire endeavor. Yes, MLB has the ability to move games. Say a governor locks down a state. A team scheduled to host games could theoretically move to a backup location. But what if that happens to two teams? Or three? Or five? At some point, the churn could become too overwhelming to continue.

As one executive put it: "Baseball that makes people sick is not baseball."

…

Minor League Baseball is expected to make an announcement within the next 24 hours about the fate of the 2020 season.

It has been obvious for months now that all MiLB seasons will be canceled, and that should be made official after a meeting of Minor League Baseball’s board of trustees on Tuesday. Evan Drellich of The Athletic writes Monday that MLB teams "are going to extraordinary lengths in an attempt to ensure the safety of players and personnel involved with the sport, and those kinds of resources are not available to minor league clubs." Also, MiLB teams don't have the kind of high-dollar media deals that can provide revenue in the absence of fans. Many minor league players are expected to get clearance to join independent leagues this summer.

How will baseball be played differently this year?

First, there are some significant rules changes, aside from the coronavirus protocols (such as no spitting or pitchers being allowed to carry a wet rag in their back pocket to use for moisture instead of licking their fingers):

• All National League games will include the designated hitter.

• In extra innings, each team will begin with a runner on second base. The runner will be the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning's leadoff hitter (or a pinch runner).

• As previously planned, all relief pitchers must face a minimum of three batters (unless the inning ends).

• Opening Day rosters will feature 30 active players culled from each team's 60-man player pool. The active roster will be trimmed to 28 players on the 15th day of the season and then to 26 players on the 29th day. There will be no limitations on the number of pitchers (as previously required in a new rule change). Teams will be permitted to carry three players from their taxi squads on road trips, one of whom must be a catcher.

• The trade deadline is Aug. 31; Sept. 15 is the postseason eligibility deadline.

• The standard injured lists will be 10 and 45 days and there will be a separate COVID-19 injured list for players who test positive, have a confirmed exposure to COVID-19 or exhibit symptoms requiring self-isolation.

• The schedule will be regionally based, with teams playing 40 games within the division and 20 interleague games against the corresponding geographical division.

As for on-field strategies, some things we might see:

• Due to the short summer camp training session, starters will likely pitch fewer innings the first two or three times through the rotation. You could see things like tandem starters – two starters throwing three innings in the same game – and several teams have already announced they plan to go with a six-man rotation. The Braves are a perfect example of a team that could piggyback starters, with a deep rotation that includes Mike Soroka, Mike Foltynewicz, Cole Hamels, Max Fried, Felix Hernandez, Sean Newcomb, Kyle Wright and Touki Toussaint.

• In general, with the expanded rosters for the first month, expect to see more bullpen usage (although the three-batter rule will eliminate some of the churn). The short season and importance of every game means managers may rely more heavily on their best relievers as they won't have to worry as much about having to keep them fresh for six months and then the playoffs. Look to see more four- and five-out saves from closers.

• The extra roster spots at the start of the season means we could see more pinch-running/defensive-replacement types used as bench players, a class of player that has largely disappeared in the past couple of decades. The extra-inning baserunner rule in particular means having a speed player on the bench would be of value.

• The bunt may not be dead! Sacrifice bunts from non-pitchers are rare these days and now pitchers won't be batting, but the extra-inning baserunner rule could lead to some sacrifice bunting.

Thirty-one players were positive for COVID-19 in Major League Baseball's first round of coronavirus testing, the league and players' union announced Friday.

Seven staff members also tested positive. The 38 positives represent 1.2% of 3,185 samples collected for the first set of results. For comparison, the NBA on June 26 reported a 5.3% rate of positive tests (16 of 302) among players, while MLS announced a positive rate of 2.7% (18 of 668) among players two days later.

The positives come from 19 MLB teams, the league said. All 30 teams began training camp Friday at their home ballparks.