MLBPA offers salary deferrals in first proposal

The Major League Baseball Players Association delivered their proposal for how to compensate players during the 2020 season, calling for a 114-game season, conditions for salary deferrals and an opt-out for players who do not want to play.

This is according to reports by Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The union would start the season on June 30 and have it run through Oct. 31, with the postseason taking place in November. The second spring training is going to be three weeks long, meaning it would have to start by June 9 at the latest. That gives both sides a small window to potentially iron out the union's offer.

MLB submitted its first proposal Tuesday, offering a tiered salary structure where the game's highest-paid players would take significant pay cuts. The players did not accept it, arguing that they should not take any further pay cuts beyond prorated salaries.

The union's 114-game season is 32 games longer than MLB's 82 game schedule, meaning they would make about 70-percent of their original salaries rather than just over half. They did extend an olive branch by offering clubs the option of deferring salaries to players who make $10 million or more, but only if there is no postseason.

The union also proposed to expand the playoffs to 14 teams for the next two years. The league was also in favor of this as well, especially since they are counting on the playoffs being a big source of income this year since fans will not be able to attend.

In exchange, players would be allowed to opt-out of playing this season, receiving only service time instead of a salary. Some of the game's top players, including Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw, have expressed reservations about playing in 2020, not wanting to be away from their families or put them at risk.

Players would also receive a $100 million advance during the second spring training. They received a $170 million advance on their salaries as part of their deal with the league in March. That money will not have to be repaid if there is no season.

Players were also guaranteed service time for 2020, even if there is no season, as part of that March deal.

MLB had originally hoped to get a deal done on June 1, but that seems very unlikely to get done at this point. There is still time to get a deal done and save the season, but both sides are on the clock.