It appears some players are acknowledging that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will enforce his right to limit the season to as few as 48 games. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

MLB players 'prepping' for 48-game season?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/12/20

On Friday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Major League Baseball owners are giving the MLB Players Association until the end of Sunday, June 14, to accept a proposal that includes a 72-game regular season that begins on July 14 and ends on Sept. 27, that pays 80 percent of prorated salaries if there's a postseason and 70 percent if the coronavirus pandemic forces the cancellation of the playoffs and World Series, and expanded rosters.

Not only is the union expected to reject the offer before the weekend concludes, it appears some players are acknowledging that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will enforce his right to limit the season to as few as 48 games.

MLB insider Jon Heyman is reporting that players are "fed up" with the negotiation process and are willing to accept whatever Manfred declares as long as the deal includes fully prorated salaries.

At the root of the problem is that players don’t believe owners claim of 640K loss per regular year game w/o fans. Players suspect owners make $ per game, even w/o fans — huge disparity. Some players relish the ability to grieve and possibility owners books may prove them right.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 12, 2020

One player allegedly told Heyman he's ready for Manfred to pull the figurative trigger on the least-desired option among union members:

Some MLB players suggest they are frustrated/fed up with the process and ready to accept a shortened and implemented (with prorated pay) season. Two examples ...
“Just tell us when to report.”
“I’m prepping for a 48-game season”
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 12, 2020

In March, the owners and players agreed to a deal that promised prorated salaries for a pandemic-shortened season but that also awarded Manfred the right to determine the number of games played if the parties failed to work things out ahead of a deadline not made public, if one exists.

One week ago, ESPN's Jeff Passan explained that, if Manfred schedules a campaign of somewhere between 48 and 54 games, the union might choose to be uncooperative regarding aspects such as players wearing microphones on the field and allowing additional inside access during a season that the league has deemed must end before November out of fears of a second virus outbreak.

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