The MLB Players Association Finalizes Agreement to Start the 2020 Season

After a long and painful stalemate, Major League Baseball is close to coming back in July.

Jun 23, 2020
A detailed view of a pair of official Rawlings Major League Baseball
Getty

Image via Getty/Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos

A detailed view of a pair of official Rawlings Major League Baseball
Getty

Image via Getty/Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos

The MLB is almost back.

The Players Association and the MLB are have finalized an agreement to start the 2020 season, ESPN reports. Players will report on July 1 with a 60-game season set to start later in the month.  

Been waiting almost three months to type this.

Baseball is back.

A schedule is in place.

Camps open July 1. https://t.co/h00xlOiz12
I'd say that's official. https://t.co/NGV2PU3Cls
#MLBPA has informed #MLB players will report on July 1st for July 24 Opening Day. 60 Game season in 66 days. They are both still working on finalizing safety and health protocols which quite frankly will be something both parties will continue to improve on going forward.

On Wednesday, June 17 reports started to surface claiming that the Players Association and the league were on the verge of an agreement to start the season. According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, commissioner Rob Manfred and players' union chief Tony Clark, had a "productive" face-to-face meeting in Arizona at Manfred's request.

Breaking: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and players union chief Tony Clark had what’s being called a productive meeting face to face in Arizona. Meeting was called at Manfred’s request

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020

It's unclear what was discussed, but sources claim that the MLB presented the players with a proposal for starting the 2020 season. Despite the forward motion, The Athletic's Evan Drellich stated that no deal has been agreed on.

Source says no deal is close yet between MLB and MLBPA beccause the proposal was just sent by MLB. No agreement even in principle at this point.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 17, 2020

Heyman then reported that a deal was close. 

Very positive words. The key players are understandably being cautious in light of the difficulty of these negotiations, but deal is at hand. https://t.co/lh2A3EeecZ

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020

FOX's Ken Rosenthal also had a comprehensive look at what the proposal entailed. 

Source: MLB proposal includes:

•60 games in 70 days
•Season starting July 19th/20th
•Full Prorated Salary
•Expanded Playoffs in 2020 and 2021
•Waiving of any potential grievance

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 17, 2020

According to Jeff Passan, MLB owners unanimously voted Monday for commissioner Rob Manfred to implement a schedule based on the terms stipulated in their March agreement after the MLB Players Association rejected the league's latest proposal by a 33-5 vote. Hours later, the MLB released a statement, requesting that MLBPA inform them if the players can report to camp by July 1, and will sign off on the Operating Manual regarding health and safety protocols by 5 p.m. the next day. 

So, baseball is back now, I think.*

*IF the MLBPA says players will be available to report by July 1 AND whether the MLBPA agrees to the Operating Mannual regarding health and safety.

So, just two small, non important hurdles to get over...

By 5 p.m. (ET) tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/7WR8aZoMsN

— Chris Roush (@chrisRroush) June 23, 2020

Prior to the agreement, the MLB and the players have been in a stalemate for some time. Earlier this month, players previously rejected a proposal from the league, a decision believed to be rooted in a lack of planning and details. 

"If it is your intention to unilaterally impose a season, we again request that you inform us and our members of how many games you intend to play and when and where players should report," MLBPA negotiator Bruce Meyer wrote in a letter to MLB after the proposal was rejected. "It is unfair to leave players and the fans hanging at this point. We demand that you inform us of your plans by close of business on Monday, June 15."

Stay tuned for more info regarding the upcoming MLB season.

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