Rob Manfred tells ESPN he is now less confident in a season after talks ceased with MLBPA
There is a very real chance that we may not have Professional Baseball in America this year. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had a conversation with ESPN where he revealed he is no longer confident that a season will be played in 2020. Manfred explained that the risk of a baseball season not being played continues to grow.
“I’m not confident. I think there’s real risk; and as long as there’s no dialogue, that real risk is gonna continue… The owners are a hundred percent committed to getting baseball back on the field. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that I’m a hundred percent certain that’s gonna happen.”
Rob Manfred when asked if he was confident there would be a 2020 baseball season
Last week, the Commissioner told ESPN “unequivocally we are going to play Major League Baseball this year.” He also went on to say that the likelihood of a season being played was pegged at “100%.” Manfred backtracked on his remarks after negotiations stopped between the MLB and the MLBPA over the weekend.
On Friday, the MLB sent a return-to-play proposal to the Players’ Union that featured a 72-game season and guaranteed players at least 70% of their prorated salaries. However, the players’ association rejected that proposal. In a response letter to the league, MLBPA lead negotiator Bruce Meyer said, “given your continued insistence on hundreds of millions of dollars of additional pay reductions, we assume these negotiations are at an end.” The Players’ Union then told the MLB it is using its right from a previously made agreement in March to set a schedule, saying “it unfortunately appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile. It’s time to get back to work.”
Rob Manfred is scheduled to appear on an ESPN special tonight that features commissioners from six of the most popular professional sports leagues in the US. The television event will air from 9-11 pm EST.
