League News: Players Union Rejects MLB's 60-Game Proposal, MLB Commissioner Now Expected To Set Schedule.
After weeks and weeks of negotiations between Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Union, they still don't have a deal.
Updated: 8:35 pm EST
Major League Baseball issued a statement regarding the decision made by the Major League Players Union. It states that “… the MLB Clubs have unanimously voted to proceed with the 2020 season under the terms of the March 26th agreement. The provisions listed above will not be operative.” MLB continues, “In order to produce a schedule with a specific number of games, we are asking that the Players Association provide us by the 5:00 pm EST tomorrow with two pieces of information.
The first is whether players are able to report to camp within seven days (by July 1st.) The second is whether the Players Association will agree on the Operating Manual, which contains the health and safety protocols necessary to give us the best opportunity to conduct and complete our regular season and Postseason.”
After weeks and weeks of negotiations between Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Union, they still don't have a deal.
Ever since COVID-19 derailed spring training in March, many baseball fans have wondered if and when there will be baseball in 2020.
Today, the MLB players union executive board (8 on a subcommittee, plus 30 reps who vote by team canvas) rejected a 60 game shorted season that includes an expanded playoff, and other bouns for the players. Additionally, players voted against:
- No salary guarantees in event games are not played
- $25 million minimum playoff pool for 2020
- If fewer than 50 games are played in 2021, there will be an expanded playoff, and there will be no DH
After Major League baseball modified it's the initial proposal, yesterday, Rob Manfred sent a letter to union executive director Tony Clark offering to cancel the plan to expand postseason play and add a universal DH in 2021 - if a 'full' 2020 season isn't played.
According to MLB insider and ESPN writer Jeff Passan, the players have voted against the league's latest proposal 33-5.
The most recent vote is the latest in multiple proposals sent back and forth by the league and the players union and follows tweets by multiple baseball players saying: "When and Where."
On Friday, everyone learned that at least five Philadelphia Phillies players tested positive for COVID-19.
It is now up to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to implement a season. If he does, as expected, there is an expectation among various agents that multiple platers will sit out.
In a statement released by the Major League Baseball Players Association: "Earlier this evening, the full Board reaffirmed the players' eagerness to return to work as soon and as safely as possible. To that end, we anticipate finalizing a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols with Major League Baseball in the coming days, and we wait for word from the league on the resumption of spring training camps and a proposed 2020 schedule. While we had hoped to reach a receives back to work agreement with the league, the Players remain fully committed to proceeding under our current agreement and getting back on the field for fans, for the game and for each other."
