Phillies: MLBPA rejects MLB’s 60-game proposal for 2020

The MLBPA voted 33-5 against MLB’s latest proposal for a 2020 season

It appears the last hope for a 2020 Philadelphia Phillies season now lies in the hands of Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Monday evening, the executive board of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA)  voted 33-5 against the league’s latest 60-game proposal with expanded playoffs, according to ESPN, who writes that Manfred is now in the position to “unilaterally implement a schedule of his choosing — likely between 50 to 60 games.”

“The MLBPA Executive Board met multiple times in recent days to assess the status of our efforts to resume the 2020 season,” the MLBPA said in a statement, released following their executive board’s vote. “Earlier this evening, the full Board reaffirmed the players’ eagerness to return to work as soon and as safely as possible. To that end, we anticipate finalizing a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols with Major League Baseball in the coming days, and we await word from the league on the resumption of spring training camps and a proposed 2020 schedule.”

Earlier on Monday, CBS Sports insider Jim Bowden reported indications he received from a “prominent member on the players’ side” was that the players would end up approving MLB’s latest 60-game schedule proposal. And, that given recent that players around the league have started to test positive for the coronavirus — the first being the Phillies — the players had felt pressured to “get it done.” Bowden had also reported that the players believed if they reject MLB’s 60-game proposal, owners will go ahead and implement a schedule of 48 to 50 games.

Clearly, that was not the sentiment of the majority among the MLBPA Executive Board. This past weekend, MLB temporarily closed all training camps and announced that a restart of spring training would only occur in home cities, rather than Florida or Arizona.

RELATED | Phillies: 8 test positive for coronavirus in Clearwater

The MLBPA twice delayed its vote on MLB’s 60-game proposal — the first time was to collect data regarding COVID-19 testing and outbreaks within the league. The second delay was after Manfred made late tweaks, offering to cancel expanded playoffs and the universal designated hitter for 2021″ if a full season isn’t played in 2020.”

By rejecting MLB’s proposal Monday evening, ESPN says the players “retain their right to grieve the terms of the late March agreement between the two sides.” Such terms included players being be paid on a prorated basis, but, at the same time, the two sides had agreed they would discuss the “economic feasibility of playing without fans in the stands.”

RELATED | Phillies close all Clearwater facilities amid virus outbreak

The MLPA also said in their released statement that while they had hoped to reach a revised back-to-work agreement with MLB on Monday, 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.”

So, there is no agreement, for now, for a 2020 Phillies season. But, the options are fast dwindling.

As USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes, “Commissioner Rob Manfred has no choice now but to mandate 60-game 2020 MLB season in a sea of bitterness and hostility.”