MLBPA rejects MLB proposal for delayed 2021 season in 2021 with extended play-offs

The Major League Baseball Players Association has rejected a proposal by MLB to shorten the 2021 season to 154 games. MLB recently proposed the changes and offered to pay the players for the usual 162 games in exchange for an extended post-season in 2021.

The union announced the following statement on Monday night:

“Late last week, for the first time this season, the MLBPA received a proposal from MLB to delay the spring’s training and opening day by about one month.

According to the proposal, the end of the season would be delayed by one week, the regular season would be shortened to 154 matches and several double copies would have to be played from all thirty teams. Players will also be expected to accept previously rejected proposals linking extended play-offs and extension of the designated hit.

Although the salary of players will initially not be linked to a regular season for 154 matches, MLB’s proposal does not offer any protection against salary or length of service in the event of further delays, interruptions or cancellations of the season.

The MLBPA management and leadership team reviewed and discussed the owners’ proposal throughout the weekend and today. The clear result of this deliberation is that players will not accept MLB’s proposal, but rather prepare for a timely start to the 2021 season, and that they accept MLB’s commitment to re – direct its clubs to advance. prepare for a timely start. .

We do not take this decision lightly. Players know first-hand the efforts needed to complete the shortened 2020 season, and we appreciate that important challenges lie ahead. We look forward to finalizing rapidly improved health and safety protocols that will help players and clubs meet these challenges. ‘

MLB then responds with its own statement:

“On the advice of medical experts, we proposed a one-month delay with the start of spring training and the regular season to better protect the health and safety of players and support staff. A delay of the season would reduce the level of COVID enable -19 infection rates will drop and extra time for the spread of vaccinations, as well as the reduction of possible interruptions in the 2021 season that all sports are currently experiencing.

“The offer included starting the regular season on April 29 and playing a schedule of 154 games that would pay players in full as if they were playing 162 games. We also proposed two changes from the 2020 season that are overwhelmingly popular. was among our fans – for this season only with an adapted extended After-season (seven teams per league) and the universal designated hit rule.

‘It was a good thing that reflected the best interests of all those involved in the sport by simply moving the calendar of the season back for one month for health and safety reasons without violating the rights that the players or the Clubs currently have under the basic agreement or Uniform Player’s Contract for pay and service time.

“In light of the MLBPA’s rejection of our proposal, and their refusal to oppose our revised offer this afternoon, we go ahead and instruct our clubs to register in time for Spring Training and Championship season, subject to reaching an agreement on health and safety protocols.Our 2020 season has taught us that when the country faces a crisis, the national game is just as important as ever, and that there is nothing better than to play ball.We were able to complete a 2020 season through Herculean efforts and sacrifices.made by our players, club staff and MLB staff to protect each other.We will do it again together as we strive for more ‘ to play a safe and entertaining season in 2021. ‘

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletica number of players feel it is too late in the off-season to revise the schedule, which partly explains the reason for the union’s rejection. The two parties may revisit the idea of ​​extended playoffs and the universal DH, but according to Rosenthal, the union is still opposed to the idea of ​​extended playoffs.

David Samson broke off the latest MLB / MLBPA negotiations on the latest episode of Nothing Personal with David Samson. Listen below:

The MLBPA recently rejected an offer they would give the universal DH in exchange for an extended post-season. The new 154-match season proposal is essentially the same offer, with just eight fewer games and a delayed start.

According to the league’s plan, the spring training would start on March 22, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, and the opening day would have moved back to April 28th. The Wall Street Journal‘s Jared Diamond adds the extended post-season would include 14 teams, not 16 like the 2020 season.

MLB’s proposal seems reasonable enough at first glance, although the MLBPA would not find anything nearly as valuable as the extended post-season for the owners. An extended post-season equals ten million in extra revenue to MLB. The union is already entitled to full payment for 2021, which means they would not get much out of the rejected proposal.

As much as it makes sense to postpone the season for health and safety reasons, it comes down to money. MLB wants to play as many matches with fans in the stands as possible, and delaying the season will help do so now that the spread of vaccination has begun. The MLBPA wants full payment regardless of the season length.

The spring training camps are expected to open in mid-February and the game between Cactus League and the Grapefruit League will start on 27 February. The start period for the regular season is scheduled for April 1st. To hear both parties tell it now is the schedule they will stick to.