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| - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer says the protracted negotiations between Major League Baseball and the players union to launch a coronavirus-shortened 2020 campaign have made a nightmare scenario worse. In a series of tweets, the 29-year-old US right-hander said the team owners and players have hurt the sport by struggling for three months to decide money and length of season. "It's absolute death for this industry to keep acting as it has been. Both sides," Bauer tweeted. "We're driving the bus straight off a cliff. How is this good for anyone involved? "Covid 19 already presented a lose lose lose situation and we've somehow found a way to make it worse. Incredible." The MLB Players Association has not wanted to compromise on getting full pro-rated salaries, lest it become an issue in new contract talks set for after the 2021 season. "If there's going to be a fight the time for that fight is after the '21 season when a new CBA is negotiated," Bauer tweeted. "5 years of potential change. We're doing irreparable damage to our industry right now over rules that last AT MOST 16 months." The union rejected the most recent MLB owner, but the league is expected to impose, thanks to a March deal, the same 60-game season to start in late July and end September 27 ahead of October playoffs. "So we gave up shares of playoff money, eliminating the qualifying offer for 2021, paycheck advance forgiveness, Covid 19 protections, and protection for non guaranteed arb contracts for next year in order to hold on to our right to file a grievance..." Bauer said. Players were asked to approve COVID-19 safety rules and a July 1 start to training camps by MLB before a final plan was put into place by the league for a season of about 60 games. MLB shut down pre-season games in mid-March just two weeks before the planned season openers of a 162-game campaign for each team. js/dmc
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