While his own history on the job includes some less-than-friendly interactions with labor, Yankees president Randy Levine believes ownership and the players can and should reach an amicable resolution of their present standoff regarding a resumption of the 2020 season. He tells David Lennon of Newsday that a deal “can get done,” calling players “the heart and soul of the game” and saying he believes both sides still have the will to get play underway.
So, what’s the path? As Lennon explains, it seems Levine — and perhaps the upper reaches of the league office — are accepting that players will stand on their demand for pro rata pay. Working from that premise, says Levine, removes “the contentious issues” and creates space for the sides to “get in a room and negotiate.”
The MLBPA’s “when and where” bargaining tactic — and associated public relations blitz — seems at least to have succeeded in gaining some level of clarity. Per Levine: “The commissioner now has the right, as long as the players get to 100% pro rata [salaries], to put a schedule together. So I don’t think that the money and the schedule — the number of games — is the issue anymore.”
While there are still important points to be negotiated regarding the way a 2020 season would function, Levine says he thinks they all can be managed in talks. And what of the suggestion we’ve seen floated that some substantial number of owners will balk at playing a season at all? Levine says he hasn’t heard that message in his talks with other clubs.
It’s far from clear that Levine’s general optimism and outlook are shared in the upper reaches of other organizations. Certainly, the league’s most prominent and valuable franchise may have a different outlook than other organizations. But the Yankees hold quite a lot of sway, both within and without league circles, so it seems rather a notable development that Levine — who says he’s in communication daily with commissioner Rob Manfred — holds these views and is willing to communicate them publicly.
get both parties in one room if you really want true negotiations to happen
Yep. Lock the door and can’t come out til there’s a deal. This is about as bad as it gets. Yes both sides have points but each party concede a little, find the middle ground and get to work. League and union look really bad right now.
Randy Levine is an idiot.
I wonder how that idiot millionaire thinks about you.
Randy Levine says, “yakety who?”
Love this nonsense that money=intelligence, or class even.
People like you make it so easy for these people to treat workers any way they want, because you not only don’t stand up for yourself, you reflexively assume they’re rich because they’re smarter or work harder and not because they stiff people to get ahead.
I don’t think anyone is suggesting $$=intelligence, but that the mere insult “he is an idiot” is meaningless. Explain why you feel Levine is an idiot.
The retort “i wonder what he thinks of you” is to point out the emptiness of such a comment, not to hold him up as a virtuous figure.
Workers are really taken advantage of in this country….not.
Im living on a firefighter salary which is very low. Does that mean im stupid?
My African American neighbor is a firefighter, he lives in a half a million dollar home.
I don’t know what choices you have made, but they are your choices. You are not being exploited.
I did explain. Levine is a vocal supporter of the President.
Therefore he’s lost all credibility.
Thats awesome. Tell him congrats. I like hearing feel good stories in the midst of these bad times.
He does have world series rings. Im sorry your offended by my statement. This guy called him an idiot. Id like an explanation. President of the winningest franchise , im sure hes not an idiot. And im a Yankee hating Oriole fan. If being a winner and having huge success makes you an idiot, where do i full out application?
Ironman_4life I hope you don’t run into Dellin Bantances considering Levine said he sucked. He might throw the ball at your white supremacist head
You guys are all really butt hurt over one little opinion. Just a question what makes you think I’m white ?
“Ironman” it’a absolutely pathetic that the first retort out of your mouth involves wealth-worship.
Have fun watching your cult leader lose in November.
So you know my race and my leader ? This is fun. How old am i and where do i live? And wahts my favorite foods and hobbies? I cant wait for reply.
Isn’t it ironic that the group(s) clamoring for tolerance are the most intolerant. How is judging someone by who they vote for any different than judging someone for their race, religion, sexual preference, etc…
Using phrases such as ‘cult leader’ is pretty low and childish. Grow up and to Ironman’s point, quit making assumptions on the race and voter preference of people who post. It’s a form of discrimination & prejudice – so stop.
There is going to be no baseball this year
Its not looking good and it isnt Covid related. Pure greed.
it is covid related though, and that’s why this wolnt end up being worse than 94 in the end. the financial issues her were caused by a darn act of God, not like in 94 where the players were just fed up.
Or you just could think that it’s an act of the Chinese government….specifically Wuhan
well, china, iran, northwest, northeast and los angeles were first hit hard. it seems to be a work of one orange peel!
People who blame this virus on the President have TDS. Get over your hate. Makes you wonder why people treat people the way they do these days. Always dividing. Why not keep politics out of baseball before it ends up like the China hugging NBA.
‘Politics as defined by Aristotle himself is a “practical science” because it deals with making citizens happy. His philosophy is to find the supreme purpose of life, virtue as he puts it. One of the most important roles of a politician, though, is to make laws, or constitutions.’
Aristotle must be an idiot then, cause politics are for the birds. Leave that talk at home. No one cares.
Theres 100,000 dead american’s dude. Show some respect, Are you that insecure that you wanna tag a group of people you couldnt even define if someone asked you? You’re type are worse than Al Qaeda, because we actually pay for your civil terrorism.
can’t you see the way he defined it perfectly applies to current affairs in baseball? or any time for that matter?
To some their politics are their religion. They hate the President and everyone who doesn’t. Sadly the way it is now.
im very much not a Democrat, but specifically blaming them for the pandemic is crazy, especially when. A. they obviously didnt start it. and B. its a problem in other countries too.
doesnt matter if it was natural or not, my point stands.
In this Country, it was the NON work of one guy, squatting in the White House. Had he taken early ( or any ) action, this mess would be over, like it is in most of the civilized world.
Instead, he is waiting for it to “magically disappear”
The only thing disappearing are American lives, and the Baseball season.
I 100% blame the “president” He did NOTHING.
Oh brother. You really need to get your news from more reliable sources.
You are one of these nuts who probably believe he said if you are sick it’s OK to go to work. Or that the virus was a democratic hoax.
11, hope you are just joking. i’m worried because i can see you are an intelligent person. really?
Your obviously a white supremacist.
You’re obviously a white supremacist
But if you did not send the check back He’s obviously your sugar daddy
He’s still doing nothing, and it never ceases to amaze me that there’s other diehard sports fans like me that can’t make the mind-numbingly simple connection between his inaction and all of us losing sports indefinitely.
Vizionaire.
Of course he did something. And of course he never said those two things.
People need to be more fair. When you have to exaggerate to make a point, maybe your point isn’t worth making.
Dislike his job performance all you want, but be fair.
You’re obviously an idiot, “Ironman_4life.”
Looking forward to your cult burning down in November. I’ll be right here laughing at you when it does.
Cult? As I said earlier, when you have to exaggerate to make a point, maybe your point isn’t worth making.
What cult? Im lm so lost.
Im lost. Where this cult stuff and white supremacy come from in this discussion. Its not always about race.
Im sure you hate me now and my cult and im white supremacist but im also a die hard sports fan. I havent missed a Chiefs game since 97 and i watch 120-140 Orioles games when i can. I hope that doesnt make you hate me more.
Those of you that point blame on any person for this virus need to be checked for TDS. Write a thank you note to China. They unleashed the wildfire on many countries with the WHO cuddling up to them. Knock off the partisan bullcrap! We are a country that needs to unite, not fight. Baseball doesn’t need politics and hacks.
I have no idea how you people think this is not covid related.
Of course it is. If it wasn’t covid related, it would be a 50 game season with expanded playoffs. Write that in stone. But since entire teams may be affected by this, the expanded playoffs far from a guarantee. And if there are no playoffs, what’s the point of a season.
It is COVID related, Only reason in this mess is because of COVID.
#boycottMLB
#boycottbaseball
hope it causes teams to lower ticket prices next year. id go to a few more games if i could get tickets for cheaper
I think it will be the opposite
oh i dont expect prices to go down. i just want to paint a picture of myself spending regardless because boycotting isnt an interest of mine here.
Can you boycott something that isn’t happening?
If no season that’ll be the focus for next year no doubt.
Levine seems smart, and well aware of how to start going about getting a deal done. If the ownership side comes around to that line of thinking, the two sides might get a deal done.
Levine & other Team Leaders know they backed themselves into a corner & if they want their books to remain sealed, the only way is to come to an agreement on a new deal with the players.
If they don’t the owners will loose & be forced to open their books.
I also expect Manfred will be fired for all the statements he released that are now usable in court against the Teams which will force them to open their books. The owners will do whatever it takes now to avoid that.
There will be Baseball in 2020, wait & see.
Anyone know about the possibility of Manfred being removed? I assume it would take a lot, but there can’t be very many people that actually support him. He’s done nothing positive for the game.
Manfred is just a representitive for the owners, he is speaking on the behalf of them. He is just doing his job.
He will still be the Fall Guy
No doubt
Lol. He would neven be removed as long as the owners are pulling in forbes money.
If they can’t negotiate a path forward, I believe Manfred will be out, too. They may let him resign, to save face. He’s going to take the fall here, though. That’s fine by me, however. I’m not keen on his vision for the game.
That was my thought, too, reading this. The owners now have 3 choices:
1) Implement the short season, and (rightfully) pay full player salaried.
2) Cancel the season to save money, which loses the war of public opinion they’ve been trying so hard to spin.
3) Negotiate with the players, in good faith, without trying to withhold their money, and start trying to repair that relationship some.
We need more owners in the 3rd camp.
Every owner has a different level of profitability and a different break even point in terms of number of games played.
While a salary cap is always the focus of many followers of baseball, and will not be accepted by players, there is an equally important sticking point among owners….total revenue sharing.
The Yankees, being the wealthiest franchise with the largest media revenue stream, has the most to gain from a return to.play. Smaller.market teams have the most to lose, in terms of future financial liability. Perhaps, if he really wants to move forward in negotiations, Mr Levine should agree to share the wealth with other owners.
I kinda doubt it.
If anything, I expect a reduction in the Revenue Sharing parameters. If you think Levine (John Henry, et al) get warm and fuzzy watching the on-field sucesses of the Rays and A’s, knowing that they’re are keeping those teams alive, I think that’s a misperception. Revenue Sharing doesn’t come from the sky; these guys are paying into it.
And given that franchise values will most likely not see the dramatic increases we’ve seen in the past decade (in-game gambling is about the only goose left to lay golden eggs), I can see a significant reduction with their inspiration to share the wealth.
Do you think the Red Sox and Yankees would rather they fold?
No, nothing that dramatic. MLB is by definition both a competitive and cooperative enterprise; that was the genesis of RS in the first place.
But the sucesses of the Rays and A’s (and yes, I’m aware the A’s don’t get RS anymore, as MLB tries to force them into a new stadium) hasn’t really translated into large profit gains for them. So the question becomes, is it worth for the Big Boys to continue to support them in the realtively large way they have.
The A’s no longer get revenue sharing, and at least 2/3’s of Fishers’ net worth has turned to dust through the rest of his family mis-running The Gap. The A’s *need* the revenue from even a partial season, and also to not lose Chapman and Olson’s _last pre-arbitration year_.
I can’t imagine John Henry or the consortium that owns the Dodgers going along with revenue sharing. They paid a handsome price for premium teams and the cash flow they generate. They’re not going to willingly dilute the return on their investment.
It’s easy to jump on Levine, but it’s also reasonable to believe that at least some teams actually want to play. If MLB is negotiating only on behalf of the teams who will only agree to play if the get a huge win in negotiations, then a deal cannot come together. If there’s some give, and some concessions on players side, then a deal is possible. Big market teams carry the economic freight for smaller-market ones, and that’s fine to try to equalize somewhat. What I suspect they will balk at it is if the teams who really don’t want to play and obstruct a settlement include the teams are tanking.
Read the comments of Dr. Fauci. “MLB should not play after September.” This is an expert on infectious diseases. Does it make him right? No but it is something to consider. Both sides need to work on a new CBA so we do not lose another season.
What’s keeping Rob Manfred from drawing up and releasing a schedule is the threat of grievances. The “when and where” ultimatum didn’t say the MLBPA would stand down from any other recourse it has. The league shouldn’t expect them to do that and should prepare to defend against it regardless. The agreement from March, if it addressed anything, just stated that the commissioner would designate a schedule if the parties couldn’t agree. He should just do that and whatever happens afterwards happens.
Ok we’ll do it then. Since you asked
I’m not sure I understand why the players only have a potential grievance if the schedule is limited but no grievance if the season is cancelled. I expect we will see a grievance for not using good faith to play at all if that’s what happens.
The Players do have a grievance if the Owners do end the season for any reason other than the Virus shutting the season down. Had Manfred not made comments about the Teams not making enough money to play a season, he could have used the Virus as the reason for not playing. But now they must work out a new deal accepted by the players or the players can file a grievance & that will force the Owners to open their books.
Now if they start a season and players catch the virus, then the owners can cancel the rest of the season and they would not be forced to pay for lost games unless stipulated in the new contract.
The last things the owners want is to pay 100% prorated salaries and then be forced to cancel the season.
That is their only hope to keep the books closed & not play as many games as possible.
If they make it through the Playoff’s great
If the season ends because of the Virus that frees the oNERS OF THE REST OF THEIR SALLARY
Actually the worst case scenario is the owners have to pay 100% for 162 games ( less then original $170m payout). But what we do not know is what the medical experts told the Commissioner prior to Fauci’s statement. If they told them something similar, then the virus becomes a plausible excuse. If not then the players win.
How about an IRS profit and loss total? Would that be enough?
The Braves lost money.
But you want to open up every financial aspect of these owners lives. That’s not going to happen, nor should it.
Dammed Caps, Sorry
I’m tired of seeing “the Braves lost money” argument. The Braves “lost” money because they have heavily invested in the development around the new TAX PAYERS stadium. The tax payers are also flipping the bill on the police overtime, stadium operation, stadium maintenance AND all the transportation upgrades. The Braves got a free stadium and free operation of the stadium and infrastructure, then bought up the surrounding land to develop and spent the money on putting more money in their pockets. It is a scam job. So the money they “lost” was in development property, not in running the franchise. So please, stop using that stupid argument.
Manfred can’t get his team of owners to sign off on a pro rated rate of pay to the players. Teams that generate big revenue streams in larger markets want to play and would meet the players current demands. Teams from smaller markets that have less revenue see this demand from the players as a deal breaker and that would cause them to function at a loss if the season were to be played. I believe this is were we are getting the reports that up to eight owners would postpone the 2020 season. I too see Manfried losing his job if this season is washed out.
Players drop their grievance and sign Covid waivers in exchange for full pro-rated salaries.
The owners implement a schedule that prioritizes the completion of the postseason, but is shorter than the players or purists want.
If there is a resolution of this, that’s probably what it looks like.
Never Happen
From what I understand, the players wont go for that. If they play 30 games and the season is cancelled, they want 100% prorated salaries for 30 games.
But you nailed the crux of this, the playoffs are far from a guarantee.
The players want the owners to accept 100% risk.
the grievance thing is absurd. i dont think demanding your employees drop a grievance to get back to work is legal.
I’ve thought all along the parties needed to be in the same room and a gag order agreement on the status of the negotiations was required to keep the emotions down outside the room…
A bunch of people in the same room during a pandemic.
What could possible go wrong there?
You’re wasting your time with skullbreathe here. He’s convinced that the pandemic is a hoax.
Led by the Yankees, there are 8-10 teams whose media contract will soften the losses that result from operating stadiums without fans, concessions, parking revenues, and merchandise.
Revenue sharing will soften for some, but there are teams that will substantially lose money.
It’s easy to say they can lose money, they’re RICH!
But how much should they lose? They lose less by not playing games, hence the low number that MLB wants.
The Yankee, Dodger, Red Spx, Giant, Cardinal, and orher fans say PLAY BALL , tough for those who lose money.
But if you’re a fan of the bottom dozen, you will see things you don’t want to see with the sale of higher priced players and no new expensive salaries and an increase in imbalance.
There will be some awful teams.
Even top minor leaguers will be traded along with bad contracts such as the Will Wilson trade by te Angels.
Yes, there can be baseball, but there will be losers and that won’t be good for baseball to have very very bad teams
Rutschman and Hall if Chris Davis is included, for 5 players to be released from Single A teams. Even contraction is better then that.
George W. Bush for new Commish.
Manfred must go
Bush was real effective in Iraq ( this from a Republican). No thank you
HE would accuse the union of hiding weapons of Mass Destruction, we don’t need to go there again.
his rangers allegedly had a bucket of white pills in the rangers clubhouse.
The very last thing the owners want is to cancel the whole season, have an arbitrator believe they did it in bad faith for monetary reasons and order the owners pay the players for the number of games the arbitrator believes could have been played.
The worst case scenario for the owners is this: 100% pay for 162 games and playoffs plus treble damages and interest minus the original $170m payout. Do I see that no? But if the players claim and win a collusion charge, it could. Of course, bankruptcy then becomes a possibility for certain teams.
Technically, if the Owners do not start a season, they would have broken the first contract which would nullify it. Now the Players can file a grievance against the Owners to prove that they could not play because they would have extreme losses because of no attendance. If the players were to win this grievance, the Owners would be on the hook for 100% of all of their signed contracts.
The only way out of this is a new contract agreed on by both parties or players get sick from the Virus & the season is forced to be canceled. If the season were to be canceled because of the virus infecting the players, owners would be free from paying the players for any games not played, unless a new contract stipulates differently.
According to reports, a few players and coaches (“unnamed”) have ALREADY become infected with COVID.
Great to hear! Now that we know the China Virus has a death rate less than a bad flu season, we should see play start soon. New infections and increased testing are both up, sure, what the media fails to inform us is that the death rate has lowered substantially.
So is the virus woke and doesn’t attack BLM and ANTIFA (anti-first amendment) rioters? Oh, the tracers aren’t allowed to ask if they were looting and rioting. The hypocrisy is fascinating.
PLAY BALL! Make a deal and get to work, people!
Great to hear! Now that we know the China Virus has a death rate less than a bad flu season
We already now this flu has killed more Americans that WWI, and that’s with all the lockdowns.
However, if you believe China, then I don’t know what to say.
LMAO, if you believe the US China-Virus numbers, you probably also believe in Big Foot. Look at the pneumonia deaths from 2018, now check 2020. Yep, they were classifying ALL pneumonia deaths as COVID in 2020, as to the 1000% decrease in deaths classified as pneumonia, despite no positive tests.
Why? So folks who identify as lucid, but lack the traits of being lucid, can pretend to feign outrage. You’re a case in that point. I suppose you felt all the riots were justified too?
Don’t you and your pals wish to tear down all the WWI memorials?! Not the best example, yet still wrong. Comparing any swaths of the population in 2020 to 1914-1918, demonstrates the aforementioned lucidity portion of this exercise. Stay WOKE, child.
It’s already too late. Fans know they have been treated poorly and will respond in kind. If MLB finally starts it will be competing with other sports who have made more of an effort to return. No one will be interested in watching an extended spring training. Manfred has turned America’s pastime into America’s laughing stock.
People who want people to pay for them have been treated badly.
The fact is the players are going to make less than a 3rd of their normal salary and owners will take a bath if Covid doesn’t allow the baseball post season to be played.
I see the players issues, and I see the owners issues.
I’m shocked that people only see one side of the issue.
My prediction is: the owners “compromise“ by paying full pro rated salaries for x amount of games. Pat themselves on the back like they are heroes. This off season they don’t offer any big contracts, the cry poor because they “Compromised” and say they cannot pay out big contracts. The players union files a lawsuit calling it collusion, there will then be a very long work stoppage after the 2021 season.
I agree with that completely
Maybe MLB should make The President The Commissioner…
1) baseball would be played, and everyone e get paid.
2) he wouldn’t be The President anymore.
..personally, maybe we should just hand the whole mess to Bill James.
Of course the Yankees want the season back on…. short season for their suspension with the cheating allegations back out in the public eye!
Sorry but do not think any MLB games.
Unless someone gives….
However, if players, managers, coaches, staff start getting sick, it will end
In disaster.
Same with the NFL in the fall
Ok so no “W”. So how about my pay answer for every solution?
President: Mark Cuban
NYM owner: Mark Cuban
MLB Commish: Mark Cuban
*pat