Major League Baseball and Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement Monday night that it will be imposing a 60 game regular season schedule with usual playoff format for the 2020 season. This will finally put to an end the back and forth between MLB and the MLBPA on disagreements they were having over a length of season and salaries.
The owners decided it will proceed with the original March agreement they had with the players, after they turned down the latest proposal from the league. They also asked the players to respond by Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET and to make clear in that response whether they can report to camps by July 1, and whether they agree to the health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The season would begin on Friday, July 24. Under the agreement that was rejected there would of been a universal DH rule for both 2020 and 2021, a guaranteed $25 million in playoff pools in 2020, and $33 million in forgiven salary advances that would increase the take home pay for 61% of MLB players. The players are now set to earn 100% of their pro-rated salary, which is about 37% of their usual full season paycheck with no extra money for postseason. MLB agreed to remove expanded playoffs for both 2020 and 2021 in order to address player concerns.
Commissioner Manfred now has the power to implement the schedule of his choosing. The union stated, “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 proposed 60 games will mark the shortest major league season since 1878.
