When the global coronavirus pandemic led to a shutdown of all U.S. professional sports, it appeared that MLB would be in a position to be one of the first sports to return.
Fast forward three months, and baseball might not return at all in 2020.
In a Monday interview with ESPN, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that he was “not confident” there would be a 2020 season — this came five days after Manfred said he was “100 percent” certain there would be baseball.
Over the course of those five days, the owners and MLBPA have exchanged proposal rejections and pointed statements. But it ultimately had the players telling the owners to tell them when and where to report for the season. In doing so, the MLBPA put Manfred and MLB in a position to either move forward with a season or basically be exposed in their efforts to play the lowest number of games (a money-saving move).
Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer — one of the more outspoken players amid these negotiations — broke down exactly what the owners were doing with Manfred’s latest remarks. He called out the stalling tactic in a Twitter thread.
isn’t it Rob? Because then you’d have to explain why you’re only going to impose 50 games when we could easily play 70+ right now. The tactic is to bluff with “no season” again and delay another 2-3 weeks until you clear the risk of “not negotiating in good faith by trying to
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) June 15, 2020
obvious to everyone what you were trying to do. And no one would think that was a “representative season” so you’d risk not getting your precious playoff money. Nope, can’t have that. So gotta make it more than that. But not too many…you’ve gone as high as about 55 games full
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) June 15, 2020
Be at least 4 off days in there…so that’s 64 days. Plus about 20 for spring training…84 days. Sept 27-84 days is July 5. Plus about a week to get players to spring training. So tack on another 7, that takes us to June 28. As I have it figured, that’s your deadline. But today
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) June 15, 2020
You’re holding a losing hand. Unfortunately, it’s a losing hand for everyone involved, not just you. There’s some saying out there about not killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Check it out on the ole google machine. It’s worth knowing.
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) June 15, 2020
Other players offered their support for Bauer’s comments.
If you’re a baseball fan and really want to know what’s going on. Look no further 👇🏻 https://t.co/2EvsVs0aPP
— Christian Yelich (@ChristianYelich) June 15, 2020
Let em know @BauerOutage https://t.co/32QuU1EuSm
— Delino DeShields (@LinoDeShields) June 15, 2020
@BauerOutage U👏🏽C👏🏽L👏🏽A https://t.co/zoJfbGEcBH
— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) June 15, 2020
This battle will continue to get uglier, and nobody comes out of it looking worse than Manfred.
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