Negotiations to get an MLB season underway continued Thursday as the players submitted a 70-game counterproposal to the team owners. The owners had made a 60-game offer Tuesday after it appeared discussions had all but died. The owners’ most recent proposal included a full prorated salary for players – a significant roadblock in previous offers.
The new players’ offer includes the 10 additional games, along with expanded playoffs for both 2020 and 2021 – including $50 million in playoff bonuses for 2020 and a 50-50 split of incremental TV revenues in 2021. The union also proposed that teams could sell advertisements on uniforms, a potentially lucrative revenue source that MLB has tested outside the U.S. The success of the NBA’s jersey patch program may serve as a comparison for MLB – the average NBA jersey patch deal is worth $6.5 million annually.
Notable Proposal Elements:
- Universal DH
- Neutral site/quarantine if needed for 2020 postseason
- Salary advance forgiveness
- Mutual waiver of grievance
