MLB owners to announce 60-game season: report

MLB owners plan to unilaterally issue a 60-game schedule for the upcoming coronavirus-shortened season, its shortest in nearly 150 years, after the players’ association rejected a series of proposals, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.

MLB Players Association head Anthony Clark met with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for talks on a plan that included expanding the number of playoff teams from 10 to 16 and starting extra innings with a runner on second base, but the union’s executive board rejected it in a 33-5 vote, the AP noted. 

The rejected deal also reportedly included giving teams clearance to sell advertising patches on uniforms and would have allowed players to wear microphones during games.

“Needless to say, we are disappointed by this development,” MLB said in a statement late Monday. “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.”

MLB asked the union to give a clear answer by 5 p.m. Tuesday on whether players can report to training by July 1.

Games would be held without fans in stadiums.

The union’s rejection is likely to lead to extensive litigation analogous to the 1990 spring training lockout and the 1994-95 strike that led to the cancellation of the World Series. 

The union said in a Monday statement that the full board had “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 await word from the league on the resumption of spring training camps and a proposed 2020 schedule.”

MLB decided to temporarily close all spring training camps in Arizona and Florida last week after multiple teams reported positive COVID-19 tests.