“ “I’m not confident.” ”
That’s Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on the possibility of a 2020 baseball season.
Talks between MLB and its players have stalled in recent weeks and there is a real possibility there will be no baseball in 2020.
“It’s just a disaster for our game,” Manfred told ESPN on Monday. “Absolutely no question about it.”
No games have been played yet in 2020 as baseball’s season was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Manfred went on to tell ESPN that both players and owners want the baseball season to start, but it still may not happen
“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that I’m a hundred percent certain that’s gonna happen.”
Just last week, Manfred said on ESPN’s televised MLB draft coverage that “unequivocally we are going to play Major League Baseball this year,” adding there was “100%” likelihood of that.
Los Angeles Times baseball writer Bill Shaikin tweeted Monday afternoon that the league said in a letter to the players union that there would be no season if players did not agree to a liability waiver.
Players have advanced two proposals, but have held firm that additional pay cuts are not acceptable, beyond prorated salaries that had been agreed to by the league in March. On Saturday, the union cut off talks, telling MLB to start an abbreviated season. “It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where,” union head Tony Clark said in a statement.
“Rob Manfred and the owners are walking back on their word…AGAIN,” Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer tweeted Monday night. “The fans do not deserve this. So I’ll say it one more time, tell us when and where.”
The league also revealed late Monday that “several” players on 40-man rosters and team staffs have tested positive for COVID-19. It gave no further details.
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