MLB to propose short season with full prorated salary

*Photo from Bay News 9*

      The ongoing negotiations between the MLB owners and the MLBPA took another turn. After the two sides were rumored to be far apart from an agreement, a potential agreement seems to be getting closer. The owners are set to propose a 50 game season with full prorated salaries for the players, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

   50 games is about a third of the full 162 game season, and the goal is to begin in early July, around the 4th of July weekend. The players recently proposed a 114 game season, so they are likely to deny this proposal if it is sent to them, but they would gladly except the prorated salary pay they agreed on back in March. According to Passan, MLB wouldn't consider a longer season unless the players agree to take an additional pay cut.

   MLB believes that the agreement between them and the MLBPA in March on prorated salaries gave them a chance to shorten the season without further consent from the MLBPA. This proposal comes after the players union sent a 114 game proposal to the MLB yesterday, which one member of an MLB ownership group called a non-starter. 

   In my opinion, 50 games is too short to have a legitimate and meaningful season. MLB apparently is only interested in a longer season if the players agree to a further paycut, which they've said time and again that they don't plan to do. There might be some traction in this latest proposal, but it still seems they have quite a lot to workout and may not get a deal done this week like they might want to. Cautious optimism is the name of the game here, baseball fans.