Major League Baseball may not play a season this year because of a threat by the players union to essentially sue club owners over money, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday.
The statement comes a week after Manfred stated he was “100%” certain at least a shortened season would be played. Delays in restarting the season, which was aborted midway through spring training because of the governmental restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, have centered around how much of 2020 salaries players would be paid in an abbreviated season.
Manfred told ESPN that Saturday’s declaration by the players union meant that negotiations were at an impasse; he said the suggestion that MLB just tell the players when and where to report for training was a threat.
"I'm not confident. I think there's real risk, and as long as there's no dialogue, that real risk is gonna continue," Manfred said.
“I had been hopeful that once we got to common ground on the idea that we were going to pay the players' full prorated salary that we would get some cooperation in terms of proceeding under the agreement that we negotiated with the MLBPA on March 26," Manfred told ESPN.
The March 26 agreement called for MLB to play as many games as possible, and Manfred said Saturday’s statement by the union indicated to him they would file a grievance based on the claim that the obligation was not being fulfilled.
Clark issued a statement in response to Manfred’s remarks, blaming the commissioner.
"Players are disgusted that after Rob Manfred unequivocally told players and fans that there would '100%' be a 2020 season, he has decided to go back on his word and is now threatening to cancel the entire season,” he said.
Manfred has the authority to cancel the season since none of three required conditions set out in the March 26 agreement have been met completely: There had to be no governmental restrictions on spectators; there had to be no relevant travel restrictions in the United States and Canada; and, after consultation with recognized medical experts and the union, there had to be no unreasonable risks to players, staff and spectators to stage games in the 30 home parks.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.