Play ball.

Finally, if not yet definitively, Major League Baseball and its players association find themselves encouragingly close enough to a semblance of labour peace to facilitate an abbreviated 2020 season.

Following face-to-face meetings in Arizona between MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and players association chief Tony Clark, sources from both sides confirm a deal is near, thus ending an infuriating labour impasse.

While some details still need to be finessed — a point cautioned by both sides on Wednesday — a workable framework is in place for a season to begin as early as July 19.

As with everything in the sports world right now, the caveat is health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic don’t worsen in the interim. But the model being discussed includes a season in the 65-game range, though the league’s latest proposal leaked on Wednesday is at 60.

According to sources, the remainder of the MLB proposal includes a season beginning on July 19 or 20, with players getting a full pro-rated salary, thus eliminating a major stumbling block. As well, players will waive their right to a grievance over the terms of return to work.

The league proposal also includes expanded playoffs, both this season and in 2021, allowing owners to capitalize on post-season revenue. An expanded tournament of 16 teams (as has been discussed) would certainly add some short-term excitement to the abbreviated campaign and add unlikely contenders.

While the MLBPA issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon warning that a deal is not yet done, a release from Manfred created easily the most optimism since this mess began.

“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.

“Consistent with our conversations, I am encouraging the clubs to move forward and I trust Tony is doing the same.”

Given the well-documented and historic acrimony between the two sides, all optimism needs to be cautious at this point, but the amount of movement that took place in one face-to-face meeting looks to be real.

Notably, for the first time MLB and owners agreed to pay full pro-rated contracts, a major stumbling block. The more games the merrier from the players perspective, who are unlikely to settle for 60.

But with the proposed July 19 start, the league is propositioning 60 games in 70 days which certainly leaves some wiggle room to get to a more appealing 65-66 games. The schedule will be preceded by a ‘spring training’ lasting approximately three weeks.

Under previously suggested formats, the season is expected to have three 10-team divisions based on geographical lines. The Toronto Blue Jays, for example, would be in a division comprised of AL and NL East opponents.

Among the details to be sorted for the lone Canadian team is where the Jays will play. General manager Ross Atkins said last week that the team is still hopeful games can be played at the Rogers Centre, though the more viable options earlier in the season would include the team’s spring training home in Dunedin, Buffalo (home of the triple-A Bisons) or sharing a home with the Tampa Rays at Tropicana Field.

Source: Toronto Sun

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