MLB and MLB Players’ Association have reportedly agreed on an extensive deal addressing a number of topics regarding a potential shortened or cancelled 2020 season due to the cornavirus pandemic.
The players voted on the deal with the owners expected to ratify the agreement Friday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Here are the highlights from the deal:
- Players’ salaries will be prorated based on the length of the 2020 season.
- Owners are advancing players $170 million for the months of April and May. Players can keep the money if the season is cancelled.
- Players will receive service time if the season is cancelled. Players scheduled to become free agents will be do so following 2020 season even if the season is cancelled. Yes, that includes Mookie Betts.
- There will be a transaction freeze (no signings, trades, or etc.) until both MLB and MLBPA agree to lift.
- MLB has the right to shorten the 2020 MLB Amateur Draft to five rounds and to 20 rounds in 2021.
- The international signing period can be pushed back to as late as January 2021.
- Arbitration rules will be adjusted to prevent players from being penalized for low stats with fewer games.
Opening Day was slated for Thursday, however, with the pandemic, the season’s start (along with most major sporting events) has been put on hold.
There is set timetable when the season will start, if it is allowed to start at all. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistically eyeing May as a target to getting back for a season. Nonetheless, the players have taken major steps to laying out contingencies in whatever is the aftermath from the worldwide pandemic.
