Have MLB Negotiations Damaged The Sport?

With MLB and the MLBPA going back and forth in negotiations, will we get a baseball season this summer? 

The players association withdrew from negotiations this weekend after demanding owners to set the terms for the 2020 season so long as the players receive their full pro rated salary. Now some are questioning if MLB missed their opportunity and if these negotiations have caused damage to the sport.

SI’s Stephanie Apstein joins Kaitlin O’Toole to give her take on the situation. 

Read full video transcript below: 

Kaitlin O’Toole: Major League Baseball has gone back and forth in negotiations, but there may be an end in sight. The Players Association essentially withdrew from negotiations this weekend, demanding owners to set the terms for the 2020 season, so long as the players receive their full prorated salary. Joining me now is SI writer Stephanie Apstein. Stephanie, the negotiations have gone on for a while. Do you think that they may have caused damage to the sport?

Stephanie Apstein: It’s been a really bad few months for baseball, for a sport that already struggles to remain relevant. It had a chance to be the only sport playing this summer. It had a chance to open the season on the Fourth of July. And none of those things have happened because the players association and the league just kept fighting. It’s been a really bad look. I don’t think the damage is irreparable. I think people will forget if they do get in a season, and it’s interesting, but this has been really not the way we wanted it to go.

Kaitlin O’Toole: Going off of what you said, Stephanie, baseball had the chance to be the only sport during summer when we could all really use a sport to tune into. Do you think there is still a chance they could get going this season before summer ends?

Stephanie Apstein: Yeah, I think that there is a very good chance that happens, and I think we should have an answer pretty soon.