MLB owners will not agree to more baseball games in 2020

The MLB season is still in gridlock as the owners and players cannot agree on a set amount of games to make up the 2020 schedule.

It looks like MLB owners are digging their heels in and have frown a line in the sand about the number of baseball games to be played in 2020. That’s if a season is finally agreed upon and the 30 teams will finally begin the process of preparing for what is becoming a never-ending story.

Both sides are trying to get the upper hand in negotiating a deal with the MLBPA.

Per Dayn Perry of CBS Sports, “According to a statement from the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), owners will not be making a revised proposal to players.”More from Marlins NewsMiami Marlins news: Another target goneWhy didn’t the Miami Marlins sign JDM?Miami Marlins rejected Boston‘s trade offerMiami Marlins are pursuing Michael ConfortoMiami Marlins need to spend to win

That means the 60 games the owners, including Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter, have proposed is their final offer. Now, it becomes a matter of planning to get the season underway while the sport is dealing with the spread of COVID-19 that has affected both the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays training facilities.

At some point, everyone involved must determine what is the best course of action to protect players and organizations. The idea of not playing in 2020 should still be a possibility.

As part of the most recent negotiations between MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and Players Union head Tony Clark included a 60-game season with full pro-rated pay. The playoffs would be expanded in both 2020 and 2021. There would be a universal designated hitter for both seasons as well. Under the agreement, players would agree not to file a grievance against owners.

But the players then countered with a proposal of more games played this season, which has led to an impasse once again. The timetable to get a season underway is quickly evaporating.

“Jon Heyman reports that the players will likely vote on Saturday whether to accept that most recent offer of 60 games or allow Manfred to set the schedule, per the March 26 agreement in which player compensation for 2020 was agreed upon,” Perry adds.“In that agreement, players granted Manfred the power to implement a season structure of his and the owners’ choosing, so long as pro-rated salaries were paid based upon the number of regular season games.”

The situation has gotten to a point where Manfred can set a season schedule of 50-60 games for 2020 without the approval of the players. But the MLBPA would have a say in how many teams would make up the postseason. The owners want to see it expanded from 10 teams to 16.