PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Weeks of back-and-forth disagreements between Major League Baseball and its Players Association are over, for now, at least from a labor standpoint.
MLB is going to implement a schedule of 60 games, according to the Associated Press, which will be the league’s shortest schedule since 1878. The AP reports Opening Day would likely be around the end of July.
The two sides couldn’t come to revised terms on how to hold the coronavirus-delayed season, so MLB is using its power from the March 26 agreement to order baseball in 2020.
“Needless to say, we are disappointed by this development,” MLB said through an official statement.
MLB’s statement from Monday night on its plan to implement a schedule for the coronavirus-delayed 2020 season. pic.twitter.com/hV2ks74IMN
— Dave Uram (@MrUram)
June 23, 2020 MLB thought they agreed to the framework of a 60-game season with the union, which also called for expanded playoffs and the universal designated hitter in 2020 and 2021, as well as other elements listed in its statement.
But the MLBPA voted down that offer 33-5.
Prior to MLB’s announcement of ordering the 2020 season, the MLBPA released a statement that read, in part, “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.”
The Major League Baseball Players Association today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/1OnFBsoEjd
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News)
June 22, 2020 Because no agreement was reached, both sides can file grievances.
RADIO.COM Sports MLB Insider Bob Nightengale told KYW Newsradio Monday night prior to MLB’s statement, that he didn’t think it would go this far.
“Right now I think just there’s a lot of hostility,” Nightengale said. “The players have come back very bitter at the owners. Owners bitter at the players … So much frustration and bitterness. Before they were talking about mic’ing up the players in the broadcast and having fun with it. Now that’s gone, I could see the players having very little cooperation, saying, ‘I’m not interested in doing a bunch of these interviews or things like that. I just wanna play ball.’”
Finances and length of schedule were obstacles, but health and safety cannot be understated in the pursuit of a delayed season start.
“That’s a huge concern,” Nightengale said. “MLB had 40 positive (COVID-19) tests last week. You’re talking about players and staff members. Complete nightmare.”
Nightengale emphasized the virus still creates a shadow of uncertainty over the season.
“Who knows what’s going to happen. Maybe all this is for naught.”
But even if baseball is played in 2020, it’s hard to argue recent weeks haven’t looked bad for the sport and its players. Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer said as much on Twitter when he learned of Monday night’s developments.
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 If there’s going to be a fight the time for that fight is after the ‘21 season when a new CBA is negotiated. 5 years of potential change. We’re doing irreparable damage to our industry right now over rules that last AT MOST 16 months. WTF kind of sense does that make? ----♂️----♂️----♂️
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage)
June 22, 2020 And then, looking further down the road — MLB’s tenuous relationship with its players is likely to pop back up with the collective bargaining agreement scheduled to expire after the 2021 season.
“As nasty as these negotiations are, I think it’ll be even worse,” Nightengale said, “because then you’re talking about so many more issues.”
But for now, assuming health and safety works out, and everyone is on the same page regarding that aspect of returning to play, the plan is for there to be baseball games in 2020.
___
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
