Major League Baseball and the Players Association are not on track for a new agreement on a delayed, shortened season, according to multiple sources on all sides of the issue.

Despite a new proposal for a 154-game season, the most likely course appears to be an on-time start for both spring training and the regular season.

The lack of momentum towards a new agreement also jeopardizes the chances of a universal designated hitter and expanded postseason in 2021.

The union could reject MLB’s latest proposal, which came in on Friday, as soon as Monday morning. Players do not want to schedule less than the full 162 games, according to several agents.

The core issue appears to be mutual distrust. After last season’s bruising labor battle, players do not trust commissioner Rob Manfred to deal in good faith. For their part, many on the owners side believe that the union is prioritizing money over health and safety. The players accuse the owners of the same.

Another point of contention is whether, under the current proposal, the players would be paid for 162 games if they are unable to play the scheduled 154. Sources on the owners’ side contend that if Manfred wanted to withhold pay for the cancellation of a significant amount of games, he would have to engage in an arduous grievance process, and that he is not eager to do so.

Agents also contend that the MLB proposal would call for 154 games over 166 days, where a typical season schedules 162 games over 186 days. Players have concerns that the lack of off days would lead to injuries and make it more difficult to reschedule games impacted by the pandemic.

We could go on, but the upshot is that you should not invest much time learning the specifics of this proposal. Owners and players remain at odds, and a battle later this year over the collective bargaining agreement looms more ominously than ever.

Popular in the Community