According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the MLBPA is considering filing a formal complaint against Pohlad for “violating a reservation of rights clause with the use of media in the collective bargaining agreement.”

Several owners and executives have also created consternation among agents and union officials by publicly declaring their intentions to stay out of the free agent market. Minnesota Twins owner Joe Pohlad’s recent comments saying they would not sign a $30 million free agent has the union considering filing a formal complaint saying that Pohad’s interview may have violated a reservation of rights clause with the use of media in the collective bargaining agreement.

Bob Nightengale – USA Today

MLBPA coming for Minnesota Twins vice president Joe Pohlad?

Or, in English, the MLBPA is mad at Joe Pohlad for saying the Twins won’t be spending $30 million on any individual player leftover in free agency this offseason. Here are the initial comments Pohlad made on Feb. 21., which we wrote more about at the time.

Related: Signing Kike Hernandez Would Be a Huge Get for Minnesota Twins

“That said, we’re not going to go out and spend $30 million on a player right now. So the players that are out there right now that, probably, a bunch of fans are talking about, we’re not in the market for those players.”

Joe Pohlad on Minnesota Twins’ free agency approach

Four days after Pohlad’s comments went public, the Chicago Cubs inked one of the top remaining free agents, signing Cody Bellinger to a three-year, $80 million contract. Is it possible that Scott Boras was using the Twins as leverage since they’ve made last-minute blockbusters in free agency before? It’s tough to say.

However, as Nightengale points out, the Twins aren’t the only team who have essentially said their organizations won’t be big-game hunting anymore this offseason. The San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers franchises have made similar gestures, just not as bluntly as Pohlad.

There’s no indication of what may come from threatening to complain about Pohlad’s remarks, if anything at all. But we do know the MLBPA isn’t thrilled about how honest his comments were.

BREAKING: Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor deal, sources tell ESPN. While it still needs to be ratified by both parties, that is expected to be a formality, and when it is:

Baseball is back.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 10, 2022

Full season, full pay, season will be extended 3 days with doubleheaders to make up for April 7 Opening Day.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 10, 2022

Buckle Up

Because we’ve already been deprived months-worth of offseason processes and given the fact that baseball should be well into spring training, there’s a huge rush of action that needs to happen and no time for said action to take place.

Teams are expected to report for spring training as quickly as tomorrow morning, league transactions could start within hours and Opening Day is expected to be April 7. One team that optioned not to make any moves before the lockout began, the Minnesota Twins, should be one of the busiest teams in the coming hours.

But as we’ve learned… that doesn’t mean they will.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

According to MLB Network Insider, Jon Heyman, the Major League Baseball owners and the players union are finally closing in on an agreement. This is coming after a very ugly and publicized feud between the two sides.

Breaking: MLB and players union are closing in on an agreement to play the 2020 season, via players. Deal expected to be for prorated pay and include expanded playoffs.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020

As part of the pending agreement to play the 2020 season between MLB and the players union, the union has agreed to waive any grievance.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020

Not so fast…

It looked like Commissioner Rob Manfred may have finally pulled his head out of his ass, after back tracking on his own comments earlier this week. Manfred recently said he is 100% sure there will be a MLB season, only to say he can’t guarantee that a few days later.

Not so fast…. because as other baseball insiders are coming to the Twitter machine, reports are conflicting on where conversations actually are. Jon Heyman’s report from above is being disputed by ESPN and The Athletic reporters, alike.

Source says no deal is close yet between MLB and MLBPA beccause the proposal was just sent by MLB. No agreement even in principle at this point.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 17, 2020

Major League Baseball has sent a new proposal to the MLB Players Association, sources tell ESPN. No deal is done, but with Rob Manfred and Tony Clark having met, this is seen as significant progress considering where the parties were 48 hours ago.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 17, 2020

There is no agreement between MLB and the MLBPA. MLB knows players must get full pro rata. League wants players to waive right to grieve. Expanded playoffs a part of this. Number of games is vital. Other issues, too. There is work to be done. But a pathway to a deal does exist.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 17, 2020

What we know for sure:

Rob Manfred reportedly called a meeting with players union chief Tony Clark Wednesday morning. Apparently, Manfred was sick of being bullied by the the media, players and his owners.

In order for an deal to consumate, the MLB players will have to drop any legal grievances they are threatening and the owners will have to offer the players full prorated salaries for any amount of games that will be played.

Breaking: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and players union chief Tony Clark had what’s being called a productive meeting face to face in Arizona. Meeting was called at Manfred’s request

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020

All of this news is coming just a day after multiple MLB players posted tweets saying “tell us when and where”, implying that they are sick of this publicized argument and ready to finally play ball.

Players were telling owners that negotiations were done. Tell us where to play and we will be there….. but they were also going to bring legal action at the same time.

It looks like it worked because the owners seem here to “play ball”.

We will be here to update you, when we know something more definite. We are closer to playing baseball in 2020… we do know that much. It has been a roller coaster the past couple weeks and hopefully it’s time to put that behind us so we can watch the Twins win their third World Series…. but who knows, at this point.

Reports of an agreement are false.

— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 17, 2020

This … is promising. pic.twitter.com/paSkycRZuQ

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 17, 2020

Cameron Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

Are we any closer to an MLB season in 2020? There is plenty of speculation, but the MLBPA hopes that will end with their newest proposal. Under the new proposal, the season would consist of 114 games starting June 30^th and ending October 31^st. This would be an increase from the 82 games suggested in the previous proposal. 

The union won’t budge on player salaries, as anticipated, and instead offered owners $100 million in deferrals if the postseason is shortened or canceled. They added the additional stipulation that the playoffs be expanded for both this season and the 2021 season. This represents a switch in how players previously viewed expanded postseason play with rising revenues and stagnant salaries. The proposal also asks for an opt-out for participation of players due to the virus. Those who are deemed “high-risk” would receive salary and others would only rack up service time. 

For the players opting out: those who are considered “high-risk” would receive salary, whereas others would receive service time only.

Further, players would receive $100 million total advance during the new spring training.

Also: MLBPA proposes two years of playoff expansion.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 1, 2020

It makes sense that the union asked for a 32-game increase in the schedule. Players will take as many games as possible due to being paid on a prorated per-game basis. This agreement was made between the league and union back in March.

There is another aspect the players want to change from the league’s proposal. Under the new offering, the next spring training (which could be this month) will see a salary advance of $100 million. Players have already received $170 million in advance to cover the first two months lost due to COVID-19.

However, with the league’s revenue being vastly tied up in playoff media deals, commissioner Rob Manfred’s office and owners have concerns about starting the season but not reaching or completing the playoffs. The union’s proposal asks for contracts of $10 million or above to be deferred if the postseason is canceled with deferred payments coming in November 2021 and November 2022 with interest. 

The players have also agreed to additional stipulations such as broadcast enhancements, in-game microphones, and programming on off-days. With the possibility of an offseason Home Run Derby and All-Star Game and I believe this proposal is a homerun (pun intended). The only reason this wouldn’t be approved and finalized is the owners, who are losing revenue on a per-game basis. Reports say that owners could lose up to $640,000 per game without fans, concessions, parking, and other gameday revenue operations. 

You’ve probably seen the Karen’s of Facebook and Twitter asking why the millionaire players aren’t willing to take a pay cut when the billionaire owners are the ones holding this back. But just remind them they would do the same thing if their salaries were scrupulously cut. Oh, and that they probably have a degree from the University of Phoenix and are likely devoid of any marketable talent. That should get them going.

While some owners are fine foregoing the entirety of the 2020 season, players are pushing hard to ensure that they not only have games played but that they’re paid equitably too. Not only that but I am going absolutely bat-bleep crazy without baseball. Please make this happen.

Note: As of 4:11 PM, the MLB has announced new plans for yet another new proposal and twist to the saga. These parties seriously need to go to couple’s therapy.

Major League Baseball intends to propose a shorter season in which they would pay players a full prorated share of their salaries, sources told ESPN. The league believes the late March agreement allows it to set the schedule, and that this would fulfill players’ pro rata desire.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 1, 2020

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan