Miami Marlins: MLB and Players Association at a current standstill

When will the Miami Marlins and 29 other MLB teams start the 2020 season?

What is Major League Baseball going to do? According to ESPN.com and other new services, “MLB owners, including Miami Marlins owner Derek Jeter, have rejected the players’ offer of a 114-game regular season with no additional salary cuts and told the union it did not plan to make any counter proposal, source is confirmed to ESPN.”

Essentially, the sport which includes the Marlins is at a standstill. There does not appear to be any leeway in negotiations which means the 2020 season is in peril.

I hate using that word, but it’s true. The sport I love and cover on Marlin Maniac here and Fansided.com, may not play ball in a Major League ballpark this season.

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The writer in me is irate for many reasons. The fan in me is sad. The adult in me believes as others have stated, maybe it’s time for the League office to shut things down for the year and concentrate on the 2021 season.

No one wins in the situation other than the guarantees the safety and security of everybody involved in this endeavor. While we continue to live in a country of unrest because of COVID-19 and other outlying issues that our country is dealing with, the normalcy of baseball bringing back a feeling of patriotism and healing more than likely should be put on the back burner.

Several key figures who covered the sport have spoken out over the last few days about the importance of getting some sort of deal done as soon as possible to save the integrity of the season. Buster Olney of ESPN.com even wrote that both the players and the owners must agree to something or it may set back the game as we know it for not only the 2020 season but beyond.

Now, with both sides seem willing to dig their heels in the sand, which one blinks first? How many games can be played where not only will fans have the option to witness a season, but the integrity of the game itself is preserved?

As ESPN’s story continues, “MLB told the union it had no interest in extending the season into November, when it fears a second wave of the Coronavirus could disrupt the proposed season and jeopardize $778 million in broadcast revenue.”

The biggest question on the table for both sides in addition to revenue and salaries has been the safety and welfare of the players, the organizations, and everybody who will be involved in a potential shortened season.

There have been many discussions about how games should be played, which includes all 30 teams playing in Arizona or Florida. There’s been talk of different divisional alignments, which would change the trajectory of how games are played and bring about a universal designated hitter for both leagues. There’s also been talk of three different divisions consisting of 10 teams each based on geography. MLB teams including the Marlins wouldn’t travel as far which would reduce the possibility of any contact involving the coronavirus.

There’s also been talk about consistent testing of players and organizational personnel. And then there is the discussion of what happens with ballparks and how they are maintained during a shortened season.

It was suggested by the owners that a 50-game season could be played with no more salary ductions but it wasn’t proposed in a formal concept according to the ESPN story. It has also been reported that players don’t want to play a shorter season and would not abide by the offer being made by team owners.

Just a few weeks ago, it was thought that an 82-game season would be played where players would resume practice at their training facilities, like the one the Marlins having Jupiter, Florida. The regular season would then begin around the first week of July so that it could fall in line with how the MLB season is supposed to play out before the playoffs.