MLBPA rejects owners reductions, ends negotiations and asks owners to implement schedule

The Major League Baseball Players Association rejected the owners’ latest offer of reduced prorated pay, and said they will negotiate no further. Executive director Tony Clark released a statement in which he told owners to tell them when and where to play on a shortened season.

The two sides negotiated in March for the players to earn a prorated portion of their salary based on how many games were played. However, the owners believe language around whether or not fans play allows for them to get a further reduction in salaries. That has been the subject of much consternation over the past month.

On the other hand, the March agreement provides the owners with the clear power to impose a schedule of their choosing. Clark and the MLBPA are telling the owners they will negotiate no further on salary and will take prorated salaries for whatever length of season the owners want to impose. The owners have threatened a 50-game season, which appears to be where we’re headed.

The two sides released competing statements on Saturday in what will surely be evidence used in the inevitable grievances we’ll see filed over these negotiations. Considering the MLBPA has letters from deputy commissioner Dan Halem and MLB legal counsel Pat Houlihan stating there is agreement that players are not required to accept less than prorated salary, the players appear to have an edge in any grievance.