It’s been three months since U.S. professional sports shut down amid the global coronavirus pandemic, and Major League Baseball is seemingly no closer to returning now than it was in March.
The possibility of the July 4 restart has come and gone as owners have refused to offer players their full prorated salaries beyond 50 games. Despite the contentious negotiations, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said last week that he was “100 percent” certain that there would be baseball this year.
Five days later, though, that changed as Manfred said he wasn’t confident there would be a 2020 season — this coming after the MLBPA rejected the owners’ proposal, telling them simply to inform players when and where to report.
And now, MLB’s best player, Mike Trout, is echoing that message to the owners.
Tell us when and where!! https://t.co/zPMbehld1n
— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) June 16, 2020
In his first tweet since May, Trout — who rarely speaks out about, well, anything — commented on the statement from MLBPA director Tony Clark. In line with the messaging of his fellow players, Trout said, “Tell us when and where!”
As Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer broke down in a Monday Twitter thread, MLB players feel that the owners have been negotiating in bad faith as a stalling tactic to force a 48-or-50-game season. The players have instead opted to have the owners institute the season in lieu of negotiating further — hence, the “tell us when and where” message — but now, Manfred and MLB ownership continues to stall in hopes of minimizing the games played (a money-saving effort).
It’s a losing hand for the owners, and Trout — along with the rest of baseball — sees right through it.
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