MLB Weekly Digest June 7th Edition: MLB Thinking About Short Season

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The prior week in MLB was about the league thinking of a shorter season, the MLBPA stated their stance on more salary cuts, and a reliever in the National League is expected to undergo elbow surgery.

MLB, Owners Thinking About 48-Game Season

Major League Baseball has talked with owners about a short 2020 season, and they are thinking about a 48-game schedule with prorated pay for players, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

MLB and the MLBPA remain at a stalemate keeping baseball from returning. At its core, it is a fight over pennies on the dollar. It is myopic, it is unnecessary and it has solutions. At @espn, I look at baseball’s problems and find the necessary compromise: https://t.co/zfmivlOhmh

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 5, 2020

There were previous reports the league wanted to prorate salaries for about 50-60 games.

The MLBPA did propose a 114-game schedule, and the league rejected the proposal.

The two sides are at an impasse in the negotiations.

When the league did reject the proposal of a 114-game schedule with fully prorated salaries, they decided not to present a counteroffer.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has the power to unilaterally implement a short season due to the March agreement between MLB and MLBPA, says Passan.

The league was hoping to begin the season July 4, but barring divine intervention, the season will not start in another month.

If both sides can’t reach an agreement on how much to pay the players, then Manfred will not have any other choice then to mandate a short season.

The commissioner would prefer to reach an agreement with the players rather than imposing an abbreviated 2020 campaign, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Commissioner surely prefers to reach agreement with players rather than mandating truncated season: 1) nothing good comes from fighting w/ players who could grieve such a call; the game is nothing w/o players 2) very short season will raise objection by some over its legitimacy

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 6, 2020

If Manfred does impose a short season, the players could file a grievance with a claim that MLB failed to play as many games as possible and decline expanded playoffs, says Heyman.

If Manfred does mandate short season — 48 games is lowest # heard — players would have to play provided conditions are safe. Players recourse? They could file grievance w/claim MLB failed to play as many games as possible and hope to open the books, and decline expanded playoffs

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 6, 2020

A reason the league would prefer a shorter season is the owners have said playing an extended schedule without fans would cause massive losses they don’t want to absorb.

A season of 48 or 50-plus games would be bizarre.

The Washington Nationals, who won the World Series last year, were 19-31 after their first 50 games last year.

A short season would force teams to start the season strong as enduring a short losing streak would put clubs in a position where there is little room for error.

MLBPA Issues Statement Regarding Salary Cuts

The Major League Baseball Players Association does not want any part of more salary reductions after they had a meeting a couple of days ago between the association’s executive board and more than 100 players.

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark released a statement.

Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/jEdgARWhQy

— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 5, 2020

Clark added the league’s demand for additional concessions in terms of salary cut was “resoundingly rejected.”

It seems the players association would have to agree to additional cuts or make a better offer to MLB.

If the owners are willing to have prorated salaries for almost 50 games, then maybe 60 or 65 games at fully prorated salaries are feasible.

The two sides have been negotiating about baseball returning since the coronavirus pandemic forced the league to shut down in March.

The negotiations have been contentious between both sides, and it is a shame after several months, there is no agreement.

Philadelphia Phillies Reliever Seranthony Dominguez Expected to Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Philadelphia Phillies reliever Seranthony Dominguez is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

After a series of unfortunate events, the Phillies managed to get Seranthony Domínguez back in the U.S. this week. He has to quarantine, then he'll have his Tommy John surgery — perhaps later this month: https://t.co/TtiOjTTL4z

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 5, 2020

Dominguez received a recommendation by doctors to have the operation in March but was unable to leave his home in the Dominican Republic due to the pandemic.

The reliever returned to the team several days ago and is expected to have the procedure later this month.

He has not appeared in a game since June 5 due to an injured ulnar collateral ligament.

The loss of Dominguez is significant for the Phillies if baseball is played this year.

He posted a 2.95 ERA in 58 innings (53 games) with 74 strikeouts, four home runs allowed, and a 0.93 WHIP with the Phillies in 2018.

He struggled the following season by accumulating a 4.01 ERA in 24 2/3 innings pitched (27 games) with 29 strikeouts, three home runs surrendered, and a 1.45 WHIP.

Dominguez could return for the Phillies later in the 2021 campaign if there are no setbacks during the recovery from the operation.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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