As negotiations between Major League Baseball and the players association continue, commissioner Rob Manfred guaranteed Wednesday that "we're going to play baseball in 2020, 100 percent."
Manfred spoke with Tom Verducci on MLB Network ahead of the amateur draft.
Owners believe the deal the struck with players back in March gives Manfred the power to mandate a season, even if both sides fail to reach a deal. Players would receive a full prorated salary in this structure, and the season would be drastically shortened to around 50 games.
There would be negative consequences to forcing a season. For one, both sides have been in favor of expanding playoffs for the next two years, but that is only possible if there is a deal struck. Mandating a season could also worsen the already strained relationship between the owners and players. The Collective Bargaining agreement is set to expire after the 2021 season, and those negotiations are already expected to be very contentious.
However, failing to play in 2020 would also have long-term negative impacts on the game, both financially and how people view the sport.
"I remain committed to the idea that the best thing for our sport is to reach a negotiated agreement with the MLBPA that plays as many games as possible for our fans," Manfred said. "We do have rights under the Mar. 26 agreement, and there could come a point and time where we exercise those rights."
The league is preparing to counter the union's most recent proposal "shortly." In the player's last deal, they called for an 89-game season and full prorated salaries. Manfred said the counter will "move in the player's direction," but it would not be for the full prorated deal.
Players have said that they are not willing to take another pay cut beyond prorated salaries. In its most recent offer Monday, MLB offered 75-percent of the player's prorated money over a 76 game season.
Owners are adamant that the season is over by Nov. 1 out of fear that a second wave of COVID-19 could jeopardize the playoffs, but the league also has commitments to their broadcast partners that they do not want to go complicate. That means that the longer the negotiations go, the shorter the season is expected to be.
"89 games in this point in the calendar and in a pandemic is just not realistic," Manfred said, referencing the player's last offer.
In MLB's last proposal, the regular season ended Sept. 27. Spring training 2.0 will be three weeks long.
Manfred added both sides are "very, very close" on medical protocols for 2020. While money has been the greatest obstacle during negotiations, the health and safety of players and coaches is the most important issue for both sides.
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