Jonathan Dyer/USA TODAY Sports
After months of negotiations, the league’s owners agreed to implement a 60-game season based on their March 26 agreement with the MLB Players Association.
They’re aiming to start the season on July 24, with players reporting to their home stadiums on July 1 to begin training. MLB and the owners are asking the players to respond by 5 p.m. ET on whether or not they will report on July 1, and if they will agree to the health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement comes just a mere hours after the MLBPA rejected a different 60-game proposal that would have seen the following items:
1) The universal DH for two years
2) A guaranteed $25 million in playoff pools in 2020
3) $33 million in forgiven salary advances that would increase the take home pay of 61% of Major League players
4) Overall earnings for players of 104 percent of prorated salary
5) Over the last two days, MLB agreed to remove expanded Postseason in 2021 in order to address player concerns
Under the March 26 agreement, the above items will not be implemented. However, the March agreement does grant MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred the power to set the schedule. It also gives prorated salaries for the players.
With the 60-game limit now set for the season, the league will now attempt to pack in as many games as possible up till September 27, their self-imposed last day of the regular season.
The MLBPA is expected to accept the July 1 reporting date and health protocols on Tuesday.
