In order to produce a schedule with a specific number of games, the owners said in a press release they want to hear two things from the Major League Baseball Players Association by 5 p.m. Tuesday:
1. Can the players report to spring training by July 1?
2. Will the players 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?”
MLB statement says it will set a schedule once players sign off on health/safety protocols and indicate whether they can report for spring training 2.0 by Friday, July 1. pic.twitter.com/8IyDLsc7IP
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) June 23, 2020
Earlier Monday, the players voted against the owners’ proposal of a 60-game season.
At that point, Bob Nightengale, of USA Today, reported Commissioner Rob Manfred is "scheduled to implement a 60-game season that will start July 29."
After the vote, the players released a statement that read, “The MLBPA Executive Board met multiple times in recent days to assess the status of our efforts to resume the 2020 season.
» McCOY: Compromise shouldn’t be a dirty word for baseball
“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 word on the league on the resumption of spring training camps and a proposed 2020 schedule.
“While we had hoped to reach a revised 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 our fans for the game and for each other.”
» AREA BASEBALL FEATURES: Seth Gray | J.T. Brubaker | Adam Eaton | Mike Hauschild | Craig Stammen
The negotiations between owners and players have lasted for weeks with neither side able to come to an agreement on how many games they will play in the 2020 season or much the players will be paid.
Last week, there was a glimmer of hope after a meeting between Manfred and MLBPA President Tony Clark, but that didn't last long and talks continued.
About the Author
