MLB won't counter MLBPA's offer of 70 games
It appears Major League Baseball owners and the MLB Players Association will enter another weekend without an agreement to start the 2020 regular season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Late Friday afternoon, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich reported that the league will not counter the rejected offer from the union of 70 games, fully prorated pay and a share of postseason revenue. Instead, owners will discuss their next steps this weekend:
The MLBPA addressed the matter via an official statement:
Earlier this week, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that July 19 could be announced as Opening Day for the pandemic-shortened season if the owners and players came to terms on an agreement before Friday concluded.
Instead, it seems the parties are closer to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred naming the length of a season that could last around 48-54 games (per a March 26 deal that promised the players 100 percent prorated salaries for an abbreviated campaign).
MLB was also in headlines on Friday after the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants closed spring training facilities due to the uncontrolled virus outbreak.
The Phillies confirmed an outbreak that included at least eight positive tests. One Toronto player showed virus symptoms, while one person who had visited San Francisco's facility "exhibited mild symptoms," per The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly.
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