In the latest move to have a New York Yankees 2020 baseball season, the MLBPA (players union) has rejected the supposed last MLB offer for a baseball season of 60 games. Without a formal rejection, the players countered with a 70 game season that owners immediately rejected. The union late today voted on the MLB plan and rejected it 33-5.
The MLBPA then released a statement Monday evening, implying it was done negotiating with the league over the specifics of a return-to-play plan.
The next step is expected to see commissioner Rob Manfred impose a season on the players. It’s unclear if Manfred will take that step on Monday night (or even on Tuesday). However, he is supposed to have a call with the owners, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.
Under the March agreement baseball Commissioner, Manfred has the right to impose a season of MLB’s liking as long as the players receive their full pro-rata pay for the games played. By imposing a season, he leaves both sides of the negotiations to file grievances and counter grievances over the season.
Indeed, the union waiving its right to a grievance seemingly became a central part of the negotiations late in the process. Still, with no agreement in place and time running out, Manfred will presumably turn to his last-resort option, one that he will implore to impose.
The union vote comes on the heels of more harrowing news as 40 MLB players and staff members reportedly tested positive for the novel coronavirus in recent days. MLB has reportedly ordered all spring training sites to be closed and sanitized, and personnel must test negative for COVID-19 before being allowed to return.
Ken Rosenthal, an MLB insider, made this report about an hour ago, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post says that MLB will have a conference call with the owners tonight to get their input.