Last week, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred unequivocally said there would be a 2020 season played. But he then reversed course days later and backed off the 100% guarantee.
Manfred blamed the Players Association for ending negotiations and informing agents and others that a grievance would be filed once MLB imposed a season. Critical statements from MLBPA executive director Tony Clark and MLB followed Manfred’s interview with ESPN.
Just as matters were beginning to look all the more bleak for the sport, it was reported Manfred and Clark met in person in Arizona. That alone was a significant step forward, as the two sides had largely communicated via email up to this point.
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, talks have advanced to a point where MLB and the union are nearing an agreement for 2020:
Breaking: MLB and players union are closing in on an agreement to play the 2020 season, via players. Deal expected to be for prorated pay and include expanded playoffs.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
Per Evan Drellich of The Athletic, it was MLB who submitted the latest proposal for the regular season, though an agreement isn’t necessarily close to being in place:
Major League Baseball sent a new proposal for the 2020 season to the Major League Baseball Players Association a short while ago, sources say.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 17, 2020
Source says no deal is close yet between MLB and MLBPA beccause the proposal was just sent by MLB. No agreement even in principle at this point.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 17, 2020
“At my request, Tony Clark and I met for several hours yesterday in Phoenix. We left that meeting with a jointly developed framework that we agreed could form the basis of an agreement and subject to conversations with our respective constituents,” Manfred said in a statement.
“I summarized that framework numerous times in the meeting and sent Tony a written summary today. Consistent with our conversations yesterday, I am encouraging the Clubs to move forward and I trust Tony is doing the same.”
The offer presumably includes full prorated salaries — which the MLBPA has insisted on receiving — and an expanded postseason, which the league has sought as it would further aid to recouping lost revenue.
There still remains the matter of how long the season will be. The union has pushed for more games, while MLB has generally countered with a lower number. Their reasoning being the regular season must conclude by Sept. 27 so that the postseason can be completed before a potential second wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the fall.
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