Go back to, say, Feb. 26, and a question like the one offered in this poll would have seemed unfathomable. Spring training was in full swing at that point, and there was no sign that a normal regular season wouldn’t happen. Now, because of multiple depressing realities, we’ll get a shortened Major League Baseball season at best or perhaps none at all.
If we rewind to March 13, MLB suspended operations as a result of the coronavirus. For the most part, expectations since then have been that the league’s return would depend on the health and safety of everyone involved, but now it could be money that plays a huge role in preventing a season from happening. The league and the union have recently been at loggerheads over revenues during a truncated season, and Tuesday didn’t deliver any breakthroughs suggesting they’re getting closer to a compromise.
MLB owners, who have not been open to an even split in revenues, presented a proposal calling for further reduction in pay for players. Those making the highest guaranteed salaries would lose the most money under the league’s plan, which has not gone over well with the other side. MLB’s offer left the union disappointed, and while there’s still time for the two to continue negotiations and ultimately reach a deal, it’s not a sure thing that the MLBPA will even want to pick up talks again after it feels it was slighted in this round of discussions.
Mets right-hander Marcus Stroman was among the league’s prominent players to publicly voice his distaste for the owners’ offer Tuesday. “This season is not looking promising,” he said in a tweet.
Do you share Stroman’s grim outlook? Or will both sides, knowing how much they have at stake, find common ground before it’s too late?
(Poll link for app users)
The NHL will really make MLB look bad. Both sides are to blame. Greedy bastards
Lmao, NhL is nothing compared to Baseball aka the greatest sport. NhL is trash. Money knows where it’s at.
NHL was at the end of their season vs. MLB was still in preseason when leagues were suspended in early March. Big difference
Exactly. Somehow, Scott Boras and his proxy Tony Clark believe that forcing the season to be canceled plays to their advantage.
What both sides fail to understand is that a totally missed season will cause ten times the damage of losing the 1994 World Series. Hockey and basketball will start up in July; the NFL pre season in August. Everything on TV.
And baseball will slip from the spotlight. And fall farther and farther from awareness.
NHL players have already received around 85-90 % of their salaries. They won’t have to take a salary hit at all really where baseball players are reportedly getting railroaded. Not really comparable.
The nation needs baseball this season arguably more than it has in the past half century. Do the right thing and play. Help the country heal.
Nobody needs baseball. Like not even remotely.
I do!
Baseball, especially right now, is more than just a game. It’s something to look forward to. Something that brings happiness and purpose to an unhappy and purposeless time. As someone with mental health challenges, baseball and sports are a welcome comfort and distraction on bad days. We need baseball now more than ever.
So do l…
How corny.
Not really.
If they don’t want to play, they shouldn’t have to. But then again, no pay, no service time.
They can pick it up again next Spring.
They already got service time in the March agreement
You’re right. I just looked it up.
There goes the owners bargaining chip. At the money being discussed, there is no reason for players to play.
Except…the money.
pre-arbitration players can’t afford to not play
Who would’ve thought the NHL would beat the MLB and NBA to getting a proposal in place to return to play.
Cuz NhL is nothing to this nation lmao
Speak for yourself. I love hockey
I’m on Anthony’s side!
I get it but its not as important here as in Canada. We just have more options in a normal year. Whatever normal means.
Ioh2710 Stop repeating yourself, you are a dick we get it. Now move on
I really don’t want this to be a question… I won’t be able to live with out a baseball season so… YES
Well that’ s a sad life then.
Any life without a baseball season is very sad
Clueless
economic interests tend to prevail when so much money is at stake. this will be no different.
You’re saying that like there has never been a strike or cancelled season, when in fact there have been several in the modern era across all 4 major sports.
but there have also been a lot of situations where deals were hammered out despite bleak circumstances. its not to say that im 100% expecting it, but i think a path is there given the situation.
Congrats to the players for arguing over millions and millions while over 30 million Americans are unemployed. Great way to make yourself look terrible just like Eric Byrnes and Tom Glavine warned…..
i really have never understood this. why should pro sports opperate any differently because of the economic situation in other industries?
Go back to World War 2 when, even with many stars serving the country, President Roosevelt asked Baseball to keep going to provide entertainment for those on the home front.
That’s not a great comparison. I wasn’t around for WW2, but I’m pretty sure no one had designs on invading Yankee Stadium. I’m sure there was an emotional toll, but players weren’t going to get sick.
Another key point, Roosevelt asked them to play. Those guys weren’t obligated, same as these players aren’t. Playing baseball isn’t the same as taking a job where you have a civic responsibility, or a responsibility to fight for your country. It’s tremendous that the players of that era played, but the circumstances are different on a personal level.
Ummm….. guys like Ted Williams and Ty Cobb left baseball mid-career to fight in a war. Now THERE is a real “health risk”. Christy Mathewson was exposed to chemical weapons that eventually lead to his death during World War I. Bob Feller wasn’t drafted to war but chose to go fight mid-career. Obviously different times when guy used to go fly planes in an actual war during their career, and now guys cry they might get a virus in an empty stadium so they need their $25 Million to play 82 games or they aren’t playing…
You’re “pretty sure” nobody had designs on invading Yankee Stadium? Did you sleep through history class or were your teachers that bad? Because they did have designs, at some point, to invade the USA.
Play some baseball. Players are making this more of a money issue and less about Covid-19. If the media actually covered that fact they’d be looked at much different by the little anti-owner sheep on this site.
Opinions like yours are why the players really shouldn’t care what fans think. The owners have just as much if not more fault here and you only blame the players? Defies logic
Yadi, dummy, players do not care what we think to begin with. So long as the millions roll in. Owners care a little more as they typically stay longer in one city than a player does. I’d suggest not bringing logic into your argument considering it’s something you lack.
You’re laying the blame solely on the players, which really isn’t fair. I get a lot of people really want a season, but try to put yourself in a player’s position, and not that of a fan. You’re being asked to take a substantial pay cut while risking your health, and possibly being isolated from your family for months. I know to some they still might say, “but it’s X million dollars!” The point is though they’re being asked to do more and risk more for less. Meanwhile, the owners are squarely trying to paint the players as the villains here by claiming they’re losing money. They’re not. They’re losing profit. So I don’t see how anyone can be mad at players for wanting to gain as much as they can; but give the owners a pass.
Do you forget millions in this country have already been risking their health daily by showing up to work everyday to keep things going while making millions less than MLB players?
@Appalachian_Outlaw they’re not risking anything. They’re practically being put inside a bubble to play a game for a few months and still get paid millions. You wanna know who’s risking their lives? People who are considered essential workers, having to make contact with the public on a daily basis. Medical workers on the front lines trying to save lives. Those are the ones risking their lives and they’re making a fraction of what these overpaid players are making.
I’ve been at work every regular work day since this thing broke out in March. No one asked me if I wanted to be “essential”…. or offered me big money. We just kept going to work because that’s what people needed us to do. When people like Blake Snell say they need $7.6 Million to play 82 games of baseball in an empty stadium with regular testing because it’s a “health risk”, it kind of makes me hate a player I used to be a fan of. get over yourselves. Figure it out and play ball.
Putting myself in the players position, am I chasing rings, the hall of game, or am I just playing for the money? The answer is, go play or find a new profession. Figure it out.
Strosguy….well over 40 million
They’ll play. All parties involved are obligated to posture to carve out their best deal. Either way, looking forward to not hearing “It’s a long season,” after someone gives up 5 ER in 3 IP.
I’m guessing after a pitcher has one of those games, he might be referring to the three innings as a long, long season regardless of how many games are played.
If there is a season, it won’t be until the players and owners together have made every fan feel as crappy as possible.
The people voting yes are dreaming or not paying attention. The chances of baseball before 2021 are slim and none. Not only that, the next CBA negotiations next year will now only be even more combative. It’s just as possible that there will only be 1 baseball season over the next 3 years as it is that they play at all in 2020
Nonsense. They will get the CBA done before 2022. Free agency the biggest sticking point for the players in normal circumstances. Free agency have proven to work again with the huge money dished out in the last 2 years. They will attempt to cut down on arb years but no way that becomes so much of a conflict that 2022 gets cancelled.
I believe he meant 2020 is not going to happen, 2021 will not happen because of a strike, and they will play in 2022. Thus, 1 season in the next three.
There can’t be a strike in 2021 because the CBA will not be expired.
One season in three years would be the end of baseball being relevant. That would cripple the league and the game more than anything 1994-95 ever did. Needless to say your comment is shortsighted and ill.
By the time they can agree on all rules alterations and safety-related requirements, a messed up divisional realigned abortion of a season may do more harm than good. I love MLB baseball, but likely will mostly pass on this monstrosity.
Unfortunately.
Definitely not, too many roadblocks in not only coming to an agreement between the MLBPA and owners but logistically fitting in an appropriate number of games to at least resemble a season.
Typical collective bargaining rhetoric. Both sides know that they cannot afford to stay home while NBA, NFL, and NHL play. Money wins out — PLAY BALL!
bingo. its all a chess game, one side will cave some when it comes down to it.
Just a bit of advice for those who get depressed at the thought of no MLB season. If you are physically able, play adult baseball or softball and turn your attention to that. If your state is still on lockdown, work on some tee drills at home or at any available field/park. If physically playing isn’t an option maybe pick up some baseball books and spend an hour or two per night reading. I want MLB back as much as anyone, but turning my attention to things I can control, while staying involved in the game, has really helped take my mind off the bummer that is 2020. My wood bat men’s baseball league here in NC/SC is 3 games in, and I’m incredibly grateful to be playing again, taking extra precautions, of course.
How are you playing while staying in compliance with NC phase 2 regulations?
First 3 games have been in upstate SC. Next game should be home, in NC. Our league spans both states.
In Canada there are no permits being given out to leagues, so no recreational sports or professional sports to turn to
Great advice! Good luck to you and your team!
With no baseball to watch all summer I’ll probably be able to get my handicap down to low single digits.
The MLPA should wait to see how the NHL makes out after two weeks of play. Take a look at the infection rate amongst the players and move on from there.
And keep in mind the closing of the article on the MLBTR sister site in regards to hockey: “It is important to note that though this will be the format should the NHL resume, that is not yet a guarantee. As Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild explained recently to Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required), there are still plenty of hurdles to overcome just to get teams into their hub cities.”
So the NHL, seemingly miles ahead of MLB in their progress to resume/start a season, still has no guarantee it can happen.
The NHL Regular Season is Cancelled & they will resume with the playoffs
IF they are able/allowed to resume.
The NHL and their players have agreed on the season format. Where they will play and the virus concerns haven’t been ironed out.
Connor, I find it interesting that you focus on money. There is a major split in health concerns. Taking an illness home to family, friends neighbors seems more important than money. If your wife was pregnant would you be willing to bring home the virus? If they can’t agreed on the health measures who cares about money?
I’m for safety first, plenty of games on YouTube to satisfy my hunger until we play ball again.
If people can work at hospitals and stores players can play baseball
except baseball players arent essential and cant play with masks on.
Not true, catchers wear masks all the time 😛 stupid comment, I know. Sorry, I couldn’t help it.
Life favors the bold!
There is risk in everything; we need to live and the MLB should lead like players did in WW2 as Memorial Day should remind us.
This country needs a distraction more than ever NOW!
try pornhub
The player want a more lenient health agreement, so how can you claim that the reason for not coming to an agreement is they’re worried about passing it on to others?
Cancelling the season over money looks bad for both sides.
Not with what I’ve seen of the Owners proposal on pay reductions for the players & I don’t see any compromises on the Owners side of the ledger which makes it look like the Owners want the players to make all the concessions.
If they work out the health and safety issues- huge if- and they still cancel the season over money, that’ll be the dumbest thing I’ll ever see. And I’ve seen Halloweed starring Simon Rex.
Stroman is a hothead and idiot, so this solidifies that there will be.
As much as it pains me, I think they shoud scuttle the whole season. Expand the Arizona Fall League, add one in Florida; that will give propsects some live competition for 2 months. The guys on the 40 probably have their own workout routines anyway. Use the time to agree on a new CBA.
Of course, I’m not a player or an owner….
Bring back the downvote for Bob’s schtick.
Let’s all have a nice summer….NFL is almost here…..Boys of Summer can take 2020 off…..no play….no pay.
Plenty of Americans lost their job due to China .
Many Americans lost fathers, mothers, sisters, btothers, sons, daughters, grandparents…..due to China……playing around with germ warfare.
So if MLB players want to cry about money……..this Fans don’t care anymore about these spoiled millionaires.
I think the players are correct ( and have said so, because your word should be your bond and the owners lied), but with 80,000 people passed away in this country alone from Coronavirus, there will be no sympathy for either side from the American People. I remember 1994 quite well, and in-popularity baseball has fallen behind basketball since then. My favorite team has been the Yankees ( and I bought MLB At Bat to watch in North Carolina since UVerse does not offer Extra Innings), But I have alternatives: Football ( especially the Steelers and ASU Sun Devils), the PGA Tour and above all, my New York Islanders. Will I be back in 2021? I do not know.
There shouldn’t be a season.
Too much risk…..
Looks like more and more my prediction is looking not-so stupid after all that the Dodgers got taken big time! Dodger fans were laughing when I told them that the season will be canceled and Mookie would just be a ghost that they traded for while giving up a boat load of talented young studs which had contracts with many years of service and for low pay.
So it turns out Dodgers traded for old man David Price only. They will pay him for the 2021-22 seasons, approximately 26 million. I think the 2020 season would have been Price’s best shot at a good year. What is he going to be? 38 years old in 2021? Oh boy…. doesn’t look good! Just shows when a team try’s buying a ring it just blows up in their faces. Is that bad karma?
What’s up with minor league ball ? On or off ?
If there is no season, do not expect free agents to get what they expect ( this means Betts and Boras), and I can see the owners locking the players out of Spring Training next year as well ( because they know they are not drawing flies to the ballpark).
I think people are viewing this through fan eyes rather than the players and the teams eyes.. Fans want to see baseball but there won’t be any if the players feel like they are being screwed. It’s as easy as that. MLB playing hardball this year will not help when it comes to a new CBA. It instead lays the ground work for a bloodbath.
I love baseball but if they don’t want my money that’s fine with me. We live in a world now with too many entertainment options, not too few.
My kid’s baseball league starts back up this June and I’m coaching, so for some there still is baseball.
They’ve got a few days to work something out. No way the players are going to agree to anything before May 31st. It’s a negotiation and the owners and players will try squeeze as much as they can out of it.
If the owners and players want a season they’ll figure out a way to make it work. If they don’t then everyone loses and I think we see some sort of rumors that a lockout could occur in 2021.
The first thing to watch is the Draft. I could actually see it cancelled, then no free agent signings then the lockout. Of course, by then most people will not care. I am getting the hockey package instead of baseball for next year.
The players are being unrealistic. There will likely be no fans at the games. Even if there are fans, there won’t be many.
The expected money simply won’t be there.
Tom Glavine pissed me off back in 94, and I’m a Braves guy. Even he knows now is not the time to get tied up with money issues.
As far as health concerns go…please. Those of you still living in media induced fear, please wake up.
Here is the truth. Neither side wants to play, instead they want a fight. The health issue is the players bs excuse and this offer ( which they knew would be rejected) was the owners bs excuse.
Free Agency is dead for the next couple of years.
Big money contracts are out.
One – Two year deals are in.
I expect at least half of dozen owners looking to sell now.
Maybe the Pirates fans will be rewarded by Bob Nutting finally selling the franchise.
Anyone who voted no just isn’t in reality. They aren’t going to cancel the season over $$. It will destroy the sport and everyone loses money.
I have blamed the owners because they lied. But neither side wants to play ( remember the comments of Ian Snell and Bryce Harper?). This is Gunfight at the OK Corral time. The showdown was going sooner or later: Coronavirus just expedited things.
Thank you Donkeys for messing up the country just a little more each and every day.
Not taking a side here, but fans will have a hard time coming back to baseball if the players and owners don’t come to terms. This is really a crucial few weeks.
The owners should take the loss for 2020 and pay the players a pro-rated salary or cancel the season. It’s not right for the players to take a cut from guaranteed salaries. Owners don’t want revenue splits when things are going good because they make plenty more than owners of other sports. This should be an easy decision. Play or don’t play. Player salaries shouldn’t be a consideration.
I agree with you. But to be honest, I do not think either side wants to play.
Tony Clark & Scott Boras will learn what not playing baseball will be all about when the next players agreement talks begin. Players already started their Strike. Owners will Lock Them Out. With no games this year, these players will want to renegotiate before next Spring for missed revenue.
Let them strike. Just bring in the replacement players and let’s get the season started. These guys are so greedy it’s unreal.
A thousandaire defending billionaires trying to steal from millionaires. What a time to be alive.
This is why other countries make fun of the United States. Too many idiots that defend the top 0.000001%.
The millionaires can always find another job elsewhere. Japan, Korea, something outside of baseball. Nobody put a gun to their head to play MLB or sign every contract they’ve ever had. But please tell us about the theft that took place.
One day the billionaires who’s boots you so fervently seem to want to lick will notice you
As many have said already, both sides are to blame for this mess. Health and safety we understand. Fighting over millions of dollars while you, me and most others suffer from lost jobs, salaries and crisis is excusable. Take your ball and go home. Trust me we won’t forgive you this time. Shameful
Lotta selfish people in these comments.
Wonder what they would do for next years draft.
Throw everybody in a random draw? That doesn’t seem fair.
Keep it the same order as this year? Doesn’t seem fair either
Both sides should hammer out the new collective bargaining agreement now.
2020 is on life support anyway, and there is always the very real threat that a second wave of Covid-19 will make even a fanless baseball season too dangerous to continue.
The new agreement can go into effect next year if both sides sign off, or 2021 can be a grandfathered season.
As bad as losing 2020 is, adding in a work stoppage in 2022 would be even worse.
And whether you side with the players or owners, the very reasonable possibility of contraction would hang over both sides.
It’s obvious from the ownership viewpoint, and it would mean fewer jobs and less revenue available for salaries.
If both sides desire to shoot themselves in the head, let ’em. By 2023 baseball would be back, and everybody…owners, players, and agents would be looking at sharply diminished income.
There will be a baseball season at some point most likely in 3-4 weeks the two sides will come to middle ground this is the just the start the two side will get closer and closer by the day, money will not be the think that cancels the season if anything does
South Korea and the United States diagnosed thieir first covid 19 patient on the same day. Meanwhile South Korea is playing baseball and look at us, we’re still in lockdown for most of the country. Dumb people leading this country leads to dumb people making this situation even worse.
US is a tourist attraction all year round. Nobody goes to South Korea unless it’s for a job teaching English. Big difference that aided the spread. But I’m sure you’re smart enough to know that. Actually, no you’re not.
Half million for a half years work in a utility role? No way I’d do that; it’s an insult.
Oh wait, I forgot for a moment I’m not a ball player or mlb exec.
Half mil? Sign me up !
it’s going to get ugly, no
How weird would it be for a video game (The Show 20) to exist for a season that never even happened.
I can wait for 2021 or even 2022
At this point who cares
I hope the two sides understand what is at stake. Baseball has a huge opportunity in front of it. Can you imagine how popular baseball would become if it was able to able to start play in early July? It would be the first major sport to resume play in a country that is craving normalcy and the return of sporting events. Baseball’s popularity would skyrocket! On the other hand however, if there is no season, the other major leagues (NFL, NBA NHL) will very likely resume operations well-before baseball can muster a 2021 season 10-plus months from now meaning that baseball will largely fall out of the public’s consciousness. Even worse, however, is that many, rightly or wrongly, are going to blame the lack of a season on the owners and/or players, who are perceived as billionaires and millionaires, as being greedy at a time when so many are struggling to just get by and make ends meat. That could drive people away from the game in droves. So I hope the owners and players understand how big of an opportunity they stand to squander and how much damage they are going to do their respective long term interests if there is no season.
Bud Selig makes Rob Manfred look like Bowie Kuhn.
If MLB can’t play at least 75 games, there will be no baseball in 2020. Plus, the money issues between owners and players isn’t close to being resolved, thus, as each day passes, an Opening Day around July 4th weekend looks more and more doubtful.
And the latest proposal by the owners to the MLBPA was received by them with all the enthusiasm of getting a root canal without novocaine.
Can’t see any way possible that they cancel. The curve is starting to flatten. Give the players what they want. It’s that simple. They deserve more than the 30% they were offered. Give them 85% call it a day
Its a joke to have games without fans, Cancel 2020 season, not over money, but for safty. In addition when football starts in August many ignore baseball (unless your team is in playoff hunt. Football is the number one sport in the country, maybe due to one game per week as opposed to six in BB. I am a senior, like baseball go to Brewer games 6-8 times per season but think they should wait till 2021.
No baseball ….. boo who…. they hope they do not loose more fans like they did after 1994.
Both players and owners are stupid. Baseball is entertainment and the longer they do not play the more fans will find other entertainment.
Immediately shut down the MLB 2020 season, but let the minor leaguers play in empty stadiums. No reason for minor league player development to shut down due to the money grab going on between the owners and players union.
The fans should get together and as a group threaten to boycott all games for the next five years if there’s no agreement within 2 weeks; we wouldn’t be favoring the owners or players, just that something must get done.
The man childs are already overpaid when millions of people are out of work from the pandemic. There is NO reason for them not to play with no fans. Their age group is not even high risk. The staff can take the proper precautions to protect theirselves. They still have a small window before pro football starts.