Despite all the bluster and threats about hard lines, both sides in the frustrating MLB season negotiation remain willing to make something work. The owners would really prefer not to force the implementation of a season because it sets up a grievance. The players, on the other hand, don’t want to see their good faith eventually wielded as a club when it comes time to hammer out a new CBA.
That’s why they pushed to 70 games when acquiescing to expanded playoffs, ads on jerseys, and the universal DH. All of those things are seen as good for the league’s bottom line — with the DH good for players as well — so the union figured the additional revenue over the next two seasons would more than offset the added salary from 10 extra games.