MLB News: Yankee President Randy Levine says he doubts there will be an agreement on games

The New York Yankees President Randy Levine said today that he doesn’t believe the two sides in the negotiations for a baseball season will agree on the number of games to play.

The MLB owners thought they put forth a fair compromise deal for the players union, giving them full prorated salaries, among other upticks. The union came back with a counter off for even more games requested, which would cost the owners an additional $300 million, and the owners are not happy.

In the hopes of getting an MLB season this year, the owners basically caved and offered full prorated salaries to players to play a 60 game season ending at the normal time and protecting TV revenues. The offer included several other perks for players as well, including allowing corporate advertising on uniforms and an expanded postseason with a cash pool for players. The Union came back with a 70 game season, which was flatly and immediately rejected the owners.

So, there we stand or shall I say back at a standstill as the MLB season ticks away.  If a season is to be had, maybe a further comprise by owners will be necessary.  It makes sense to have a 66 game MLB season that would be complementary to scheduling, allowing 12 games each vs. 4 division opponents, 3 games each vs. 4 interleague opponents, and 6 games (home and home) vs. interleague rivals. The exact details may not be known until spring training 2.0 is resumed if the sides can finally come together and make it happen. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said this plan might not work for either side.

Randy Levine has had a lot to say of late about the negotiations, possibly to present a posture that would influence the players to move toward an agreement that is acceptable to both sides.  He has accused well-known players agent Scott Boras of meddling in the negotiations by trying to influence the players.  Something Boras has sad is not true.

“Here’s what I told Rob (Manfred) today,” said Yankees president Randy Levine, who was the league’s lead negotiator coming out of the 1994-95 strike. “As I’ve said, I have great respect for the players. I just do not think we can reach agreement on the number of games.

“I think the March 26 agreement recognized that (the commissioner has the right to set the schedule). So what I would do if I were commissioner — and what I advised him to do — was this: You have the players saying, ‘Where and when. We’re ready to play.’ We agreed to pay them 100 percent pro rata of their salary. So he should just say, ‘We’re finished talking about the number of games.'”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred it appears the ball in back in your court to impose a season on the players or to cancel it entirely.  The owners want a season the players want a season—time to show some leadership and give baseball fans some kind of baseball season to enjoy.

 

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