MLB Tells MLBPA It Will Not Make Counteroffer to 70-Game Proposal

The ongoing dispute between MLB and the MLBPA regarding the parameters of the 2020 season took another discouraging turn Friday, as the league told the players association it would not counter the union's proposal for a 70-game season.

MLB had offered a 60-game season, and the MLBPA countered with 70 games.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweeted additional details from negotiations:

The MLB season has been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was scheduled to begin March 26.

Heyman reported players will vote "soon" on whether to go with the 60-game season or have Commissioner Rob Manfred decide the number of games. Manfred can do so based on a March 26 agreement between the two sides that allowed the league to set a schedule if terms were not agreed upon.

A 60-game season, which was discussed in recent talks between Manfred and MLBPA executive director Tony Clark, would look as follows, per ESPN's Jeff Passan:

"[It] would start July 19 or 20 and end Sept. 27, sources told ESPN. Players would be paid their full prorated salaries—a total of $1.5 billion, or about 37% of their full-season salaries—and would receive another $25 million for postseason play and $33 million in forgiveness on the $170 million advance they received in the March agreement.

"The postseason would expand from 10 to 16 teams for the next two seasons, and a designated hitter would be added to the National League in both years. The league would donate $10 million to social justice initiatives and teams would be allowed to add advertisements to their uniforms, sources said."

MLB's desire to play no more than 60 games will not sit well with players. Passan reported they believe such a season would be too short. But the options appear to be a 60-game limit or no season at all.

The league and players union are $300 million apart, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, and the sides must still agree on health and safety protocols. Three team facilities were shut down Friday because of positive COVID-19 tests or people who had symptoms of the coronavirus.

"Exactly what MLB owners always wanted," ESPN's Sarah Spain tweeted. "Wait 'til the last minute, implement a 50-game season and then argue they tried to negotiate but time ran out. Players' side called it a long time ago."

ESPN's Buster Olney added the following: "If the owners try to impose a short season on the players under the current coronavirus circumstances, cue the circus music. The only chance to play a short season is through the collaboration and cooperation of both sides—and even if you have that, it still might not work."

A 60-game campaign would be the shortest in MLB history. Teams played 103-111 games during the 1981 season, which featured a two-month players strike.

The 1994 campaign, which ended in mid-August because of a labor dispute, finished without a World Series after teams played 112-117 matchups.