Drayer: MLB’s proposed financial plan for season met with collective ‘oof’
May 26, 2020, 5:03 PM
The Rangers' new Globe Life Field remains empty while baseball tries to plot its comeback. (AP)
(AP)
As expected, MLB presented the MLBPA with its proposed financial plan Tuesday afternoon. The reaction came swiftly from all corners of baseball outside of the ownership group, a collective “oof.”
Mariners notebook: Future of 2020 MLB season at a critical point
In place of a 50/50 revenue sharing plan, something floated by the league nearly two weeks ago that was declared a nonstarter by union chief Tony Clark, is a sliding scale that would provide those at the lowest end of the MLB pay scale with nearly 100 percent of their 2020 prorated salaries while those at the top would see drastic cuts. Of course all players would be starting at 50 percent of their 2020 contracts as negotiated in the previous agreement.
Predictably, this did not sit well with a number of players on Twitter.
Interesting strategy of making the best most marketable players potentially look like the bad guys
— Brett Anderson (@_BAnderson30_) May 26, 2020
This season is not looking promising. Keeping the mind and body ready regardless. Time to dive into some life-after-baseball projects. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Brighter times remain ahead!
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) May 26, 2020
Praying that we get this figured out and back on the field soon. It’s hard to put into words how much I miss the game. Nothing compares to that feeling of excitement/nausea when taking the mound. Been craving that. However, WE must all stay positive and keep good faith daily!
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) May 26, 2020
For its part, MLB issued the following statement:
“We made a proposal to the union that is completely consistent with the economic realities facing our sport. We look forward to a responsive proposal from the MLBPA.”
The actual math:
Seen another way: 82-game prorated salaries vs. MLB's proposal
Full Proposal
prorated$285K $262K
$506K $434K
$1.01M $736K
$2.53M $1.64M
$5.06M $2.95M
$7.59M $4.05M
$10.1M $5.15M
$12.7M $6.05M
$15.2M $6.95M
$17.7M $7.84M— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 26, 2020
It is worth noting that this is a first proposal and back and forth is expected. This proposal did come with a twist, however, as the sliding scale will impact teammates differently. For the Mariners only three players – Kyle Seager, Dee Gordon and Yusei Kikuchi – fall into the extreme cuts category.
Will it come to young players standing with their stars or vice versa? I doubt it. This is a first proposal which will bring a first counter, which will most likely lead to more back and forth. The player vs. player twist unfortunately contributes to what has been a less than graceful dance between the two sides since the revenue sharing plan was leaked nearly two weeks ago.
This is not a good place to be with the clock ticking and other sports around you making plans to restart without such acrimony. The look for baseball has not been good and some even inside the game appear to be fed up.
It’s getting very irritating that all of the information regarding the start of the baseball season is getting leaked before 95% of the players can even see it.
— Jake Diekman (@JakeDiekman) May 26, 2020
The two sides reportedly adjourned Tuesday without getting a second meeting on the books. They are miles apart right now, and by some reports on safety protocols as well, but this is a start. The ball is in the players’ court.
Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Shannon Drayer on Twitter.
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