Major League Baseball and the players union are making headway towards an agreement to play the 2020 season, with the players receiving their full prorated salaries, …
Major League Baseball and the players union are making headway towards an agreement to play the 2020 season, with the players receiving their full prorated salaries, but the two sides continue to argue about the length of the season, two high-ranking executives with direct knowledge of the talks told USA TODAY Sports.
The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports only on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.
While MLB and players were optimistic early Wednesday that a deal was close to being finalized – with a 60-game season that would begin July 19 – the mood soured by nightfall with the union seeking a longer schedule.
The MLBPA, strongly disputed any agreement in principal was ever reached, and tweeted, “Reports of an agreement are false.’’
The latest movement started Tuesday when Commissioner Rob Manfred flew to Phoenix for a one-on-one meeting with union executive director Tony Clark. The talks ended with a handshake agreement on the framework of a deal, with each promising they would present the offer to each side. The owners and players each would have to formally approve any deal.
“At my request, Tony Clark and I met for several hours (Tuesday) in Phoenix,’’ Manfred said in a statement. “We left that meeting with a jointly developed framework that we agreed could form the basis of an agreement and subject to conversations with our respective constituents. I summarized that framework numerous times in the meeting and sent Tony a written summary today.
