Phillies: MLB announces 2020 season, July 1 report date
By Matt Rappa
The Phillies will play baseball in 2020 under new manager Joe Girardi
The wait is finally over. Major League Baseball announced Monday evening that clubs have unanimously voted to proceed with a 2020 season. After several weeks of uncertainty, it is now likely that the Philadelphia Phillies will be playing baseball under new manager Joe Girardi this year.
MLB announced the season after shortly after learning the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) rejected the agreement framework developed by Commissioner Rob Manfred and the players union’s Executive Director, Tony Clark.
RELATED | Phillies: MLBPA rejects MLB’s 60-game proposal for 2020
In an issued statement, MLB says it is “disappointed by this development,” and, “in view of this rejection” of its 60-game proposal, its clubs unanimously voted to go forth with a season “under the terms of the March 26th agreement.”
As part of the rejected framework included the following provisions, which will not be operative:
- The universal DH for two years
- A guaranteed $25 million in playoff pools in 2020
- $33 million in forgiven salary advances that would increase the take-home pay of 61% of Major League players
- Overall earnings for players of 104 percent of prorated salary
- Over the last two days, MLB agreed to remove expanded postseason in 2021 in order to address player concerns
MLB says this framework “provided an opportunity for MLB and its players to work together to confront the difficulties and challenges presented by the pandemic.” Also, it gave fans the chance to see an “exciting new postseason format,” as well as offered players “significant benefits.”
RELATED | Phillies TV, radio broadcasters weigh in on the universal DH
The league has yet to announce how many games will be played. In order for them to produce a schedule, they ask the MLBPA to respond by 5 p.m. on Tuesday whether: players can report to camp within seven days (by July 1); and, whether the MLBPA will “agree on the Operating Manual which contains the health and safety protocols necessary” to give MLB “the best opportunity to conduct and complete” its regular season and postseason.
While rejecting MLB’s proposal, the MLBPA said its players remain “fully committed” to proceed under the current agreement and get back on the field “for the fans, for the game, and for each other.”
The season will become official once the MLBPA agrees to both. And, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, MLB plans to abide by its 60-game season regardless.
2/ 4. paying full prorated for 60 is not as costly with implementation and the extras such as forgiving $33M of advance, adding $25M for postseason pool etc. on top of that.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 23, 2020
Several high-profile players are saying they respect #MLB's decision to still have a 60-game season after they turned down MLB's proposal early in the day, fearing their season would be reduced to 48-52 games or no season at all.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 23, 2020
Despite the two-year designated hitter provision going away, the universal DH will still be implemented for the first time in 2020, as it was previously agreed upon in the health and safety protocol.
So, it did not end the way MLB and the MLBPA wanted, but Phillies fans will likely get baseball in 2020 after all. And, “Spring training 2.0” could start as soon as a week from Wednesday.