Morning Briefing: Players Send Counter-Proposal To MLB

Good Morning, Mets fans!

Latest on MLB’s Negotiations with the MLBPA

Yesterday, The MLBPA sent a counter-offer to Major-League Baseball, continuing a ugly weeks-long debate between the two sides. In their latest proposal, the MLBPA proposed a season consisting of 89 games, pro-rated salaries, and an expanded postseason for the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. In addition, players would agree to be mic’d-up mid-game. The season would start on July 10th and end on September 27th

However, for whatever reason, the owners consider that proposal non-starter and will only consider a season that’s 76 games in length. This refusal by the owners to act in “good faith” makes it extremely likely a season will continue to be delayed. After all, the owners have a ton of incentive to keep the negotiations ongoing; the longer it takes to sort out a season, the shorter a season will be. The lengthy negotiations have put plenty of bad PR press on both the players and the owners, which could threaten the short and long-term future of America’s favorite pastime.

Rob Manfred holds the nuclear option to start a season, regardless of the negotiations, but he’d prefer to settle with the players, a possibility that becomes even more important considering the current CBA will expire after the 2021 season.

In related news, Cardinals’s owner Bill DeWitt declared in an interview with Frank Cusumano of 590 The Fan, that it’s difficult to create a profit with the team. The rather brash statement by the owner came under much scrutiny, especially considering that he is worth 4 billion dollars, as of 2017.

In response to DeWitt’s claim, the infamous Eddie Gaedel set up a GoFundMe to help the DeWitts afford a free-agent.

Latest Mets News

The MLB draft is here! Stay tuned to MMO for all draft-related content, which we’ll be posting throughout the day.

The Mets have one selection in Day 1 of the draft. Some names that have been linked to the club include Georgia RHP Cole Wilcox, prep OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Mississippi IF Justin Foscue, and prep C/OF Tyler Soderstrom. That being said, with the uncertainty of the draft bigger than ever this year, the Mets could opt to pick a player that doesn’t consist of the aftermentioned quartet.

Jon Heyman of Fancred reports the both KBO and NPB teams are looking into signing Matt Harvey.

Former Met Ryan O’Rourke announced his retirement on Twitter.

Latest MLB News

The MLBPA has advised Scott Boras that his intention to pay released minor-leaguers would violate the union’s rules. Instead, Boras will donate the funds to a Vote-Riders, a charity aimed to increase voting in the United States.

R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports tweeted out that a team with a top-10 pick is considering punting the draft all-together.

Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal is displeased with Major League Baseball’s negotiation attempts.

Daniel Brown of The Athletic wrote about Tiger King. Just not the one you’re thinking of.