We might actually have a 2020 Phillies season if MLB goes through with a deal
UPDATE (3:05 p.m.) – The MLBPA has tweeted that no deal is done yet between MLB and the union, but the Commissioner sounded more positive in a statement he released later in the afternoon.
Reports of an agreement are false.
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 17, 2020
This ... is promising. pic.twitter.com/paSkycRZuQ
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 17, 2020
Multiple reports say that the latest proposal would be for 60 games with full pro-rated salaries.
Source: MLB proposal includes:
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 17, 2020
•60 games in 70 days
•Season starting July 19th/20th
•Full Prorated Salary
•Expanded Playoffs in 2020 and 2021
•Waiving of any potential grievance
ORIGINAL STORY: It appears the 2020 MLB season may have been saved!
According to Jon Heyman of Fancred and MLB Network, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA President Tony Clark met and had a productive meeting in Arizona earlier this week.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday Heyman reported that MLB and the players are closing in on a deal to save the 2020 season. He later added that a deal would include no grievances from the players.
Breaking: MLB and players union are closing in on an agreement to play the 2020 season, via players. Deal expected to be for prorated pay and include expanded playoffs.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
Evan Drellich of The Athletic also reported that the league sent a new proposal to the players “a short while ago” but that no deal is close or agreed to in principle yet.
Jess Passan of ESPN says no deal is done yet, but they was “significant progress.”
This is the big break everyone in baseball has been waiting for and it appears things are close to coming back.
Players had been telling the owners that they are ready to report and they just needed to know when and where. Hopefully in the coming days (if not hours) we will know when and where for the 2020 season.
There’s still a question of how many games a potential 2020 season would be, but one of the recent proposals was for 76 games.
A lot of financial issues kept the season from starting earlier, but there were also issues with getting players on the field related to COVID-19, such as lockerrooms, showers, and dugouts.
An early proposal from the owners suggested players not shower at the stadium and wait until they returned home. The idea of doing that as if they were Little League players was rebuffed by several players.
There were also rules about spitting, seeds, and tobacco use on the field for players and managers.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see coaches and umpires wearing masks, which is something the NBA floated earlier this week as well.
We’ll have more details as they become official, but Phillies fans… it looks like we will have baseball in 2020.