On the day after major league owners proposed a 76-game season, the players countered with this offer: How about an 89-game season?
Although the owners are unlikely to accept the offer, the speed at which the players responded and the narrowing of the range of games in the season make it likely that the negotiations for when _ and not if _ a 2020 season would start are approaching an end game.
The players on Tuesday proposed 89 games at prorated pay, after a previous proposal of 114 games at prorated pay. The owners offered 76 games at 75% of prorated pay, with the threat of a shorter season _ 50 games _ at full prorated pay.
The economic gulf is still wide, but the players took a step toward shrinking it. Under Monday's owners' proposal, the players would be guaranteed $1.45 billion, with another $200 million if the postseason is completed. Under Tuesday's counteroffer, the players would be guaranteed $2.65 billion, down from $3.4 billion under the 114-game bid.
The players also agreed to an expanded postseason for the next two seasons, which the owners cannot implement without the union's consent. The players also proposed to allot $5 million from a joint MLB-MLBPA fund to assist minor leaguers and charitable organizations focused on social justice initiatives.
The proposals this week _ from owners Monday, from players Tuesday _ each envisioned a season starting around July 10.
