As expected, MLB’s apparent final bid to play a season with a deal is not happening.
As first reported by Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers of ESPN, 30 player representatives and eight members of the MLBPA executive voted on the league’s proposal to play 60 games with pro-rated salaries. The vote failed by a margin of 33-5, suggesting that there’s little room or appetite for compromise between the two sides.
This is not a surprise, and at no point did the proposal ever appear likely to pass. Essentially, players believed their right to file a grievance and give the owners expanded playoffs for two years were collectively worth more than taking 60 games with prorated pay.
The responsibility now falls to commissioner Rob Manfred to either implement a schedule unilaterally or simply cancel the season. The first option is seen as the most likely, and some owners are reportedly already pushing Manfred to implement a season Monday night.
There are several owners pleading with Commissioner Rob Manfred to go ahead and implement a season tonight.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 22, 2020
Even if Manfred does this, there is no guarantee that every player shows up to play. A grievance from the players remains on the table as well.
