Tampa Bay Rays Opinion: There will be Major League Baseball in July

Tampa Bay Rays News: The owners have responded to the players’ recent proposal for the 2020 season. We take a look at the negotiations and where this is all heading.

Tampa Bay Rays fans awaited news anxiously as the players sent their proposal to the owners on Sunday. We broke down their key points yesterday and explained whether each part was acceptable or not.

Tampa Bay Rays – MLBPA 2020 Proposal

• 114-game schedule
• “High-risk players” have the ability to opt-out but still receive pay and service time.
• Salary advance during spring training
• Two years of 14-team playoffs.
• $100 million in deferred payments on salaries exceeding $10 million if there is no postseason
• Additional commitment to miking up players during games.
• An offer to hold All-Star and Home Run Derby events.

The first issue was the 114-game schedule. The players are asking for 30+ more games than the owners initially proposed. Keep in mind the owners originally proposed 82 games, we’ll have some fun with math in a little bit.

We told you yesterday that the owners would not go for that. This was simply a leverage play by the players. If players want to get full prorated salaries then asking for more games is leverage. More games mean more money for the players, and with no fans, it means bigger losses for the owners.

Tampa Bay Rays – Why there will be a season

The players showed they are willing to work with owners in the event the postseason is canceled, allowing deferred payments on salaries in excess of $10 million should the postseason be canceled. They also included the offer for more exhibitions and a second expanded playoffs next season.

As we noted in the previous article, a 14-team postseason would increase the generated revenue from $777 million to around $1,000,000.

As long as they are able to have their playoff, the funds will be there. The deferred payments give the owners the ability to hedge against the loss of the $1,000,000 playoff.

The key points have the handshake we need. They are dancing just to dance at this point.

Tampa Bay Rays – Final Obstacle: Math

The silly math surrounding the games played.

Original Owners’ Proposal: 82 games

Players Counter: 114 games

Owners’ Counter-Counter Proposal: 50 games

(114-50=64)

So there’s a difference of 64 games. That seems a bit random, does it not? It isn’t.

What is the exact midway point of the difference between the last two proposals? It’s 32 games, which leaves at… you guessed it. 82 games (refer to original proposal).

It’s just a matter of time. Get your Rays’ caps ready.