It may now all be in Rob Manfred's hands. Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Report: MLBPA rejects 60-game proposal for MLB season

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jun 22, 2020 6:48 PM ET

As had been expected, the Major League Baseball Players Association rejected an offer from owners for a 60-game regular season and an expanded postseason tournament.

According to ESPN , commissioner Rob Manfred is likely to respond by scheduling a campaign of around 50-60 games with prorated salaries per a March 26 deal agreed to by owners and the players.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeted Opening Day for such a season likely won't come before July 26. Nightengale added that Manfred could announce his plans for the campaign as quickly as tonight:

Rob Manfred expected to now implement 54-60 game season that would start no earlier than July 26
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 22, 2020

There are several owners pleading with Commissioner Rob Manfred to go ahead and implement a season tonight.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 22, 2020

ESPN's Buster Olney suspects some will elect not to play until 2021:

And the dominoes are now likely set to tumble:
1. Implementation of a short season by MLB
2. Some players choosing not to play.
3. PA grievance
4. Upcoming free agents get destroyed in market
5. All major labor issues merely deferred to next spring.
Mutually assured destruction.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 22, 2020

The MLBPA released a statement that didn't say much of anything for fans eager to watch baseball as soon as possible:

The Major League Baseball Players Association today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/1OnFBsoEjd
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 22, 2020

After the Philadelphia Phillies confirmed a coronavirus outbreak on Friday and other positive cases were reported around the league, it's believed spring training sessions will only occur at home ballparks. Previously , the New York Mets and New York Yankees were among teams looking to return to Florida facilities for spring training 2.0.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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