Baltimore Orioles: Players Counter MLB with Creative Reopening Offer

On Sunday, the MLBPA offered a counter to the MLB owners’ 2020 opening plan, and the counter offer could be good news for Baltimore Orioles fans who want to see baseball this season.

If accepted, this plan offers us even more opportunities to watch the Baltimore Orioles play live baseball games in 2020.

The plan from the owners involved an 82-game season, but the newest idea from the players includes 114 games, from June 30 through October 31. And, of course it includes no additional pay cuts for the players.

The news comes from Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich with The Athletic.

Along with more games, the players offered an expanded playoff system.

Most importantly, the players laid out their offer for players who might have a health risk. Rosenthal and Drellich wrote:

“The union’s proposal says any players who are deemed ‘high risk,’ or who live with someone ‘high risk,’ can opt out and receive both service time and pay. All others can opt out as well, but would only receive service time, not pay.”

In this new plan, the players who decide to opt out for health reasons would have their pay deferred. Since most of the MLB’s revenue is tied to the postseason, large contracts over $10 million – like Chris Davis’s – would be deferred according to the players’ union. And, some teams with immense payrolls, like the Yankees and Cubs, could receive some payroll relief, too. The deferred pay would be given in November 2021 and 2022.

More from Orioles News

• Baltimore Orioles Sign RP Mychal Givens
• Gunnar Henderson: Destroyer of Four-Seam Fastballs
• Which Current Baltimore Orioles Pitchers Have the Best Curveballs?
• Orioles News: Should the O’s Pursue Eovaldi? + More MLB News
• Should the Baltimore Orioles Consider Signing Nathan Eovaldi?

The players want more games as they are paid per game, and as a fan – I’m good with this. I’m sure I’m not alone in needing the distraction.

This proposal from the players seems too good for the owners to decline. More games means more TV revenue. And, the deferred payment plan for players who would opt out is a win-win for owners and players alike. It shows that the player reps and union president Tony Clark can get creative when push comes to shove.

The players who are working closely with Tony Clark to get the deal done include Andrew Miller, Daniel Miller, Max Scherzer, and Elvis Andrus who make up the union executive board. These players were elected by other players in the MLB. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Orioles do not currently have a representative in the MLBPA.

As of the time of publishing, the owners have yet to respond to the offer.