Alex Brandon/Associated Press
As MLB plunges into a frantic two-week negotiating period that will decide the 2020 season—and perhaps the future of the sport itself—no responsible party on either side can predict what's ahead.
But we know this much for sure.
The owners and players are already dug in about money, and there's no hint of compromise in the air. If MLB returns on July 4, the union is demanding salaries be paid pro-rata, per the agreement signed on March 27. The owners insist those terms pertained to historical norms, with fans in the stands, food and parking all paying the freight.