MLB Discussing Universal DH And Expanded Playoffs For 2021

[Kc61]

The absence of a DH would squarely present Reds with the issue of Winker and Cast together in the OF.

I don’t see any way around that, neither of them is likely to play another position regularly on this team. Occasionally Cast might play an infield spot, but not most of the time.

I’m not convinced this DH issue is finally determined for 2021. We’ll see if there is further discussion.

[Ron Madden]

The absence of a DH would squarely present Reds with the issue of Winker and Cast together in the OF.

I don’t see any way around that, neither of them is likely to play another position regularly on this team. Occasionally Cast might play an infield spot, but not most of the time.

I’m not convinced this DH issue is finally determined for 2021. We’ll see if there is further discussion.

I agree. It's not over, both sides want the Universal DH.

The Owners just want the players to give them something.

[RED VAN HOT]

I agree. It's not over, both sides want the Universal DH.

The Owners just want the players to give them something.

A DH in exchange for a player share of the expanded playoff TV revenue would seem to be a simple tradeoff in which both sides could win. I had a sense, however, from the Trade Rumors article that both sides are looking to retain a trading chip for the next CBA negotiations.

[KronoRed]

Good lord MLB looks so stupid sometimes, just get it done.

[HammerTime]

I agree. It's not over, both sides want the Universal DH.

The Owners just want the players to give them something.

Yep, I firmly believe it will happen.

[Ron Madden]

Good lord MLB looks so stupid sometimes, just get it done.

Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
As the poor labor relations continue in baseball, I've heard a lot of worried rank-and-file staff and players asking: Who is looking out for the game?

[RedTeamGo!]

The answer is nobody. Only the fans seem to care. I’m not even convinced the baseball media members care anymore. They seem the most bored. It’s just weird right now.

[Ron Madden]

Cactus League adds new wrinkle to
MLB, union’s game of chicken:
By Joel Sherman January 25, 2021 | 9:22pm

MLB wants a universal DH. The players association wants a universal DH. These sides actually agree on something. Yet, there may not be a universal DH in 2021.

Such is the relationship between these factions.

MLB a few weeks back offered the universal DH as part of a larger package that, among other items, asked for enlarged playoffs again in 2021 in return. The players association rejected the bid. Does that mean there will not be a DH or an expanded postseason? Maybe.

MLB announced an agreement with the union for expanded playoffs last year literally hours before the first pitch of the delayed season began. These sides essentially never act until the eleventh hour. Sometimes the twelfth.

Expect the same when it comes to when personnel will show up in spring training. Report dates begin Feb. 17 in Florida and Arizona. But on Monday officials representing the Cactus League which hosts 15 teams in Arizona for spring training sent a letter to MLB requesting spring training be delayed a month. The officials wrote that experts they consult felt holding off the opening until mid-March would significantly decrease the rate of COVID-19 infections in Maricopa County, which currently is among the worst epicenters of the virus in the world.

Both MLB and the players association put out bland statements. The key behind the scenes is to know the union sees the Cactus League officials as tools of MLB.

The union continues to state all other sports are playing, including in Arizona; the NHL with fans. The union sees all attempts to push back the season as MLB wanting to cut games so owners save money by not paying players. Conversely, MLB sees this version of the union as doing nothing but rejecting proposals and offering up no counters to further negotiations and foster cooperation and concession.

Of course, in this fight no one wants to show weakness, so the chances of enduring mutual pain for mutual gain is not great. The two sides negotiated last year as if 2020 were the last season MLB would ever play — so don’t leave a dime on the table. We are seeing a repeat. They should be worried how much they are throttling the golden goose

Read More https://nypost.com/2021/01/25/cactus...-sherman/amp/?

[Ron Madden]

A representative for Major League Baseball encouraged members of the Cactus League to write a letter to commissioner Rob Manfred voicing a desire to delay the start of spring training, according to people with direct knowledge of a Jan. 13 meeting conducted via Zoom.

https://theathletic.com/2347389/2021....co/svPhiHGeTf

[Bourgeois Zee]

https://theathletic.com/2347389/2021....co/svPhiHGeTf

A representative for Major League Baseball encouraged members of the Cactus League to write a letter to commissioner Rob Manfred voicing a desire to delay the start of spring training, according to people with direct knowledge of a Jan. 13 meeting conducted via Zoom.

I'd love to hear from the pro-owner crowd about this.

[757690]

From Tim Brown Twitter:

MLB on Friday proposed to the union a 154-game schedule with full pay, delayed by a month and extended by a week, sources say. Also, with expanded postseason. Union considering.

Sherman adds this:

Yes, heard what @TBrownYahoo is reporting here. The universal DH was also part of this offer. Reg season would begin likely in late April. Also heard union had a player call Saturday to discuss this.

[Kc61]

Proposal designed to give the Reds another month to find a shortstop.

Just kidding, sounds like a positive proposal in terms of health and safety, still a long season, DH, expanded playoffs.

[Ron Madden]

What MLB bid to delay season says about game’s labor future

If baseball’s owners and commissioner wanted to get negotiations on a labor agreement off on a sincere, fresh footing this year, Friday’s take-it-or-leave-it proposal for a delay to spring training and a 154-game season might not have been the best way to do it.I

After weeks of telling teams and asserting publicly that the league’s intent is to open spring training camps on time in two weeks and to start the 2021 season on time on April 1, Major League Baseball delivered its first proposal for a delay on Friday — and told the players union it needed an answer by Monday.

So much for what looked like an olive branch from the league with those same-page-as-the-union proclamations of on-time starts to spring and a full season.

Friday’s proposal was made just a few days after a letter surfaced from civic leaders in the Phoenix area advocating a monthlong delay to spring training because of COVID-19 concerns in one of the nation’s hottest hot zones — a letter that MLB encouraged those leaders to write, according to a report by The Athletic.

it’s easy to see why increasingly outspoken players have run out of trust when it comes to owners — and why the union might look at Friday’s proposal with a skeptical eye.
Especially when looking under the hood at the details of it.

A big issue for players is the expanded authority Friday’s proposal gives Commissioner Rob Manfred to cancel games, shorten the season or even cancel the season — which, in turn, suggests an opening to alter the full-pay stipulation if the season becomes shorter than 154 games without as strong a position for players to challenge a reduction of games.

And that doesn’t even consider the injury/health concerns of a more densely packed schedule of games (154 games in 166 days vs. 162 in 186) in an environment that might result in virus-related postponements and an increased need for doubleheaders (see 2020).

Any of these issues might be worth addressing in good-faith negotiations to reach a compromise and agreement. But by proposing the delay on a Friday and requiring a response by Monday, good-faith negotiations were made impossible.

Read More https://www.nbcsports.com

[Ron Madden]

The union would like to continue with the universal DH after it was implemented for 2020, but the players don’t view signing off on expanded playoffs as an equal swap, based on the latter’s significant financial boost to the owners.

Based on the baked-in distrust between the two sides, it seemed like a longshot that a modified agreement could be put together in time. The Players Association was fully prepared to go ahead with spring training as planned, and MLB only made their pitch on Friday, giving the union the weekend to mull it over. Still, the proposal wasn’t immediately rejected Monday, which might suggest some common ground could be reached.

Read More https://www.newsday.com

[M2]

The logical landing spot would be no prorating on salaries, the players get a cut of the extra playoff revenue and the DH becomes universal and permanent.