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Finally. https://t.co/MPcxG7WSq3 pic.twitter.com/PCqDILHFQ2
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 23, 2020
MLB owners, Rob Manfred plan to impose 60-game 2020 season after failing to reach deal with MLBPA
MLB owners voted unanimously Monday night to impose a 2020 season
MLB announced Monday night that commissioner Rob Manfred intends to impose a 2020 season, following the owners voting unanimously for that option. MLB's statement also put forth two directives to the union, with a request for an answer by 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Those matters pertained to the players' ability to report to camp within a week (by July 1) and the ratification of a safety and testing protocol for COVID-19.
The league's decision came after the MLB Players Association voted to reject Major League Baseball's proposal for a 2020 season on Monday evening. That proposal called for, among other things, a 60-game season, an expanded postseason, and no additional salary guarantees should the season be canceled due to the novel coronavirus. The vote -- which featured one MLBPA representative per team and eight members of the union's executive committee -- was 33-5 against the proposal, CBS Sports HQ's Jim Bowden confirmed.
Bowden also reported that the imposed season will be 60 games. The players still have to agree to terms on coronavirus safety protocols and on a report date. Those issues could cause another snag, but ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that players are expected to "lock in" a 60-game season that would start July 24.
Here's the league's statement from Monday night:
"Today, the Major League Baseball Players Association informed us that they have rejected the agreement framework developed by Commissioner Manfred and Tony Clark. Needless to say, we are disappointed by this development.
"The framework provided an opportunity for MLB and its players to work together to confront the difficulties and challenges presented by the pandemic. It gave our fans the chance to see an exciting new Postseason format. And, it offered players significant benefits including:
- The universal DH for two years
- A guaranteed $25 million in playoff pools in 2020
- $33 million in forgiven salary advances that would increase the take home pay of 61% of Major League players
- Overall earnings for players of 104 percent of prorated salary
- Over the last two days, MLB agreed to remove expanded Postseason in 2021 in order to address player concerns
"In view of this rejection, 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.
"In order to produce a schedule with a specific number of games, we are asking that the Players Association provide to us by 5:00 p.m. (ET) tomorrow with two pieces of information. The first is whether players will be 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."
The MLBPA released a statement earlier Monday implying it was done negotiating with the league over the specifics of a return-to-play plan.
The Major League Baseball Players Association today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/1OnFBsoEjd
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 22, 2020
Manfred gained the right to impose a season as part of a March agreement between the sides. He had resisted exercising that right due to concerns from the owners' side about a potential union grievance, which would claim the owners did not negotiate in good faith and with the intent to play as many games as possible.
Indeed, the union waiving its right to a grievance seemingly became a central part of the negotiations late in the process. Still, with no agreement in place and time running out, Manfred has turned to his last-resort option -- one that will then, in all likelihood, spur a grievance from the union that could prove financially costly if the players can prove the owners were intentionally dribbling out the clock.
Monday's developments came on the heels of more harrowing news as 40 MLB players and staff members reportedly tested positive for the novel coronavirus in recent days. MLB has reportedly ordered all spring training sites to be closed and sanitized, and personnel must test negative for COVID-19 before being allowed to return.
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https://t.co/q5ZwlUyu3E We now know where and when. A case why the union now has to finish off getting the game restarted and a few areas in which I think MLB/PA can still agree for common good.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 23, 2020
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Based on conversations with a number of players, there is a strong expectation the MLBPA will vote yes on MLB's proposed July 1 report date, codify the health-and-safety protocol (with some slight tweaks) and lock in a 60-game season that begins around July 24, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 23, 2020
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Updated story with @Joelsherman1 on Rob Manfred planning to unliaterally implement a 60-game #MLB season: https://t.co/CkpTWiB8cv
— Ken Davidoff (@KenDavidoff) June 23, 2020
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1/Implementing at 60 makes sense for MLB: 1. somewhat of Olive branch to go with last number offered. 2. perhaps helps with grievance to try to play last total offered. 3. if virus causes, say, a week's cancellation, better to go from 60 to 52-ish then 48 to 40-ish for legitimacy
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 23, 2020
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#playball
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) June 23, 2020
Let’s Goooooooooo!!
Time to talk baseball again..let’s revisit the top 10 #MLB players for 2020 at each position:https://t.co/mGzxw8qIM3
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#MLB Plan is to implement 60 game schedule. No universal DH. No expanded playoffs. No $25m in playoff pool money to players.
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) June 23, 2020
Players need to agree to report by July 1st for the 60 games to stay in tact.
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MLB plan is to implement a 60-game season if it can reach health accords with PA, start spring training next week.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 23, 2020
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Hope MLB avoiding nuclear option of just canceling a season and (let’s assume) the 2 sides agreeing on health/safety protocols leads to logical agreements for full DH this yr (to protect pitchers with shorter window to just prepare to pitch) and mics on players, which helps all
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 23, 2020
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Source: Owners plan to implement 60-game season once union responds to two questions posed in statement. https://t.co/6Erj1jLpfK
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 23, 2020
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Major League Baseball issued the following statement tonight:
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) June 23, 2020
“Today, the Major League Baseball Players Association informed us that they have rejected the agreement framework developed by Commissioner Manfred and Tony Clark. Needless to say, we are disappointed by this... pic.twitter.com/xEHhSbSJKA
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So MLB commits to a season, but does not yet announce how many games. Do they have to provide that for the union to agree to answer if they will show up for spring training 2.0 by July 1?
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 23, 2020
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Major League Baseball has asked the MLB Players Association if players can report to camp by July 1 and will sign off on health-and-safety protocols. The union has been asked to respond by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 23, 2020
In other words: MLB is planning on a season.
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— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 23, 2020
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MLB statement: pic.twitter.com/Jz3rSTvXuU
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 23, 2020
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All 30 control people are expecting on MLB call tonight. Unlikely a resolution will come tonight, though, on what to do next after players rejected proposal built around a 60-game season.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 22, 2020
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Stay tuned: I hear Manfred is holding a call with owners tonight.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 22, 2020
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Bauer is known as polarizing because of comments he makes. But this doesn't feel controversial. This feels obvious. There has been no ability to see the big picture on either side. If there was we would probably have major league games being played tonight or no later than 7/4. https://t.co/r1mxYbAP8v
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 22, 2020
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Owners best play is not to implement.Keep negotiating. Games will only go down towards goal of 48-52…in meantime they offered players full prorated salaries & 60 games which is more than reasonable based on present calendar. Union must want arbitration but bad OPTICS for players
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) June 22, 2020
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I co-sign this because I have been writing some form of this for weeks. The sides negotiated as if 2020 was the last season that was ever going to be played. Somehow nobody has risen to see a big picture. IN A PANDEMIC. https://t.co/0sg6fNh2c7
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 22, 2020
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It’s absolute death for this industry to keep acting as it has been. Both sides. 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. 🤦🏻♂️
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) June 22, 2020
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It’s absolute death for this industry to keep acting as it has been. Both sides. 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. 🤦🏻♂️
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) June 22, 2020
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As we await word on when and where: There are 28 markets where teams intend to play baseball this year. Let’s exclude Toronto, because who knows where they will end until up.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) June 22, 2020
Based on NYT's coronavirus tracker, cases are rising in 14 of those markets. https://t.co/GEGY42EMGe
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From @Joelsherman1 and me: The players shot down the latest #MLB proposal, and now we await the commissioner's decision: https://t.co/4hg4lBsiwb (More to come on this story)
— Ken Davidoff (@KenDavidoff) June 22, 2020
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Which ownership bloc wins: 1. group against paying players without assurance a postseason will be played and, thus, don’t want to play. 2. Group that wants to limit exposure down to 48 games. 3. Take high road, play 60 games, hope postseason is completed.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 22, 2020
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The Major League Baseball Players Association today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/1OnFBsoEjd
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 22, 2020
The MLBPA released a statement implying its side is done negotiating about season details. It will speak with the league about health and safety protocols concerning the coronavirus.
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The Major League Baseball Players Association today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/1OnFBsoEjd
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 22, 2020
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— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 22, 2020
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Statement from union… https://t.co/nMO4cw7HuE
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 22, 2020
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The Major League Baseball Players Association today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/1OnFBsoEjd
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 22, 2020
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