M’s notebook: Deadline of sorts may be nearing for MLB, MLBPA negotiations

A lot going on this week in baseball with the current negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA taking center stage. With both sides now putting paper with writing on it in front of each other, it would appear we are now at the point where what we have can be called a start.

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As for that paper, last week the players dismissed what was handed to them – massive further pay cuts through sliding scale – as a non-starter. Their response? Instead of cuts on an 82-game schedule, they wanted more games – 114 – with pro rata salary instead. Two sides going in two completely different directions yet it was reported that they did sit down across from each other Sunday for 80 minutes of talk that became contentious at times. Again, a start.

Last Thursday when we first heard that the Players Union would be asking for a 114-game season, my thoughts (which were shared on Tom, Jake and Stacy that day and can be heard on the Mariners Insider Podcast) were that with MLB widely known to prefer to complete the playoffs before the start of November when a second wave of the coronavirus is believed to hit, there was no way that number was real. The players were throwing it out there to a) have the owners open up discussions on the start of season date and number of games played that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was given control over in the March 26 agreement, or b) putting a number of games out there as something they could give up in negotiations.

A report this weekend suggested I had that thinking backwards and it might be MLB who was willing to go longer and thus set an 82-game limit as something it could give up. According to a tweet by ESPN’s Jeff Passan just before publication, however, not so much. According to Passan, the owners are now getting ready to propose full pro-rata for a shorter season.

The potential season Major League Baseball envisions would run somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 regular-season games, sources told ESPN. The exact number is being considered, but the aim would be to return in July. It would be less than half of players’ proposed season length.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 1, 2020

There are two big differences with what we know of the players proposal that could be significant. First, the players allow for the possibility of salary deferment, offering to defer with interest certain salaries if a postseason is not played. Those salaries could add up to $100 million total across baseball, a small drop in if there is agreement of what could add up to being $2 billion in salaries. Regardless, the deferral door may be open.

The second, a number of offers that have potential revenue tied to them. This includes expanded playoffs in 2021, a postseason All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, and broadcast considerations such as players agreeing to be mic’d up for games. All of this would appear to be relatively easy for the players to execute should there be a season but again, it’s in their proposal and an avenue for more dollars.

Last but hardly least, and hopefully something that gets these negotiations moving, the players’ proposal calls for a start date of June 30, which could be seen as a deadline of sorts. In order to be ready to play June 30, a deal would have to be reached this week.

Notes

• Before you do anything else today, please read or listen to Ray Roberts’ statement from Danny and Gallant.

• We have tons of Mariners coverage on 710 ESPN Seattle coming up. During the day it is Mariners Legends Week with M’s legends making appearances on all shows, and Mariners Classics continue at night with Ichiro Week, which kicks off Monday night with the Star Wars laser throw that had Dave Niehaus out of his seat. So many games with Ichiro records, milestones and fantastic feats to choose from, but Gary Hill found the seven best.

• The Mariners are losing one of their all-time greats.

After 40 years as a head groundskeeper, the time has come to hang up my rake. Thank you to my family, friends, fans, and my crew for your love and support. 40 years I went to "work" in the playground of my dreams, with the game I love. It was the pleasure of my life. @Mariners pic.twitter.com/rBhCy53yUE

— Bob Christofferson (@BCsodfather) June 1, 2020

It is hard to imagine that the field at T-Mobile Park could have been in better or more caring hands. An end of an era for the Sodfather, who hangs up his rake but hopefully doesn’t put away his dancing shoes.

Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Shannon Drayer on Twitter.

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