On what would have been opening day for the 2020 MLB season, the MLB and the MLB Players Association have tentatively reached an agreement for what will be, at the least, a shortened season.

The MLB has agreed to guarantee portions of player’s salaries during the months of April and May, meaning players will keep this pay in the event of a season cancellation.  This agreement caps out at a total of $170 million in player salary advancements in the event the season does not start within 60 days.  In exchange for the advance pay, players have agreed not to sue ownership in the event the season gets canceled or does not start within 60 days.  Arbitration rules will also be adjusted for the shortened season, so players are not penalized for the lower statistics they are likely to accrue in fewer games/at-bats.

Another issue that was covered in the agreement was service time.  If the season is canceled players will still receive full service time which means players like Mookie Betts will still be able to test their value on the open market as free agents as scheduled.

As for talent acquisition, the MLB will have the right to shorten the 2020 amateur draft to five rounds and the 2021 amateur draft to 20 rounds.  Furthermore, the international signing date can be pushed back to January of 2021 and the 2021-22 international signing period could be pushed back to January of 2022.

This deal also features a transaction freeze which will not be lifted until the MLB and MLBPA mutually agree to do so.  This means any current remaining free agents cannot be signed, no extensions can be given out and no trades can take place.

With no end in sight for the COVID-19 outbreak, this deal will ensure players are taken care of until baseball makes its return.  Something that players and fans alike cannot wait to see.