MLB players face shortened season even without their approval?

When it comes to reaching a labor agreement, Major League Baseball appears to be running out of outs. 

Three MLB executives have told USA Today Sports that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred might have no choice but to implement a shortened season of at least 50 games with the player's union if the sides can't reach an agreement within a week. 

Earlier Tuesday, the union rejected MLB's most recent proposal and countered with an 89-game schedule. Under this proposal, the season would start on July 10 and end on Oct. 11. Upon agreeing to an expanded postseason over the next two years, players would also get their full prorated salaries. 

However, with the players refusing to accept a pay cut from their prorated salaries, MLB is expected to reject the union's proposal. On Monday, MLB offered to guarantee players 75% of their prorated salaries in a 76-game regular season -- that would end Sept. 27 -- if the postseason is not canceled; they would get 50% should there be no postseason.  

"If we don't get an agreement real soon, this is going to be ugly," one high-ranking executive told USA Today. "Real ugly. And it's going to get worse." 

MLB's most recent proposal gives every player the option to not play this year. Any player who is considered high risk of suffering a serious illness due to COVID-19 would still get paid and get service time. Players without health risks who opt out would neither be paid nor earn service time.  

If the players are forced to accept a 50-game season, it's possible that some of baseball's stars could sit out the campaign. If MLB's biggest names end up getting about a third of their annual salaries, they might decide that playing during a pandemic is not worth the health risk.  

Because Manfred has the power to implement a 50-game season, chances are there will be baseball this year. The owners want fewer games because they say they will lose $640K per game for every game without fans this year. 

They players want more games because they want to recoup as much salary as they can this year. 

Recently, baseball has taken steps to speed up the pace of play in games. It might have to take a similar approach regarding the pace of labor negotiations if it wants to save the 2020 season.