Cody Glenn-USA TODAY Sports
The ball is now rolling toward an answer about whether there will be Major League Baseball this season.
On Monday, MLB owners approved a revenue-sharing plan that will be sent to the Players Association for its perusal and either acceptance or rejection. This does not mean a deal is near, but the negotiation has begun — a negotiation the players union has thought was over after the two sides accepted a deal in late March concerning service time, salaries and the draft, among other issues that the coronavirus has sent into chaos.
Yet, with losses adding up, the sides will try to reach an agreement that will let them play baseball in 2020. According to USA Today, the owners’ proposal includes a 50-50 split of revenue and would include about a half season (about 82) of regular-season games. The league hopes teams can stage games at their home (and empty) stadiums.
The players will want plenty more details, notably about safety protocols as they would be the ones at risk returning to a somewhat normal life during a pandemic, as well as how salaries would be divvied up. There are many hurdles still to clear, but both sides would like to return to a second spring training in June and prepare for a season.
“It’s coming, it’s coming,” predicted Mike Krukow on KNBR on Monday morning. “We’re going to play again. No maybe so about it.”