After MLB made it clear on Friday that they will not be responding to the MLBPA’s latest proposal of a 70-game season, their counter to the league-offered 60-game schedule, Rob Manfred offered what appears to be one last chance at salvaging an agreement.

On Sunday afternoon, players were supposedly set to vote on whether or not to accept MLB’s proposed 60 games and full prorated pay – as initially reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today – but plans were apparently scrapped later on, with Nightengale saying that no vote would be taking place.

However, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Manfred did send a letter on Sunday to MLBPA executive director Tony Clark as a final attempt to strike up a deal on a 2020 season.

In this letter, Manfred reportedly offered up a deal for the 2021 season, hoping to entice players into agreeing upon his provisions for 2020. More specifically, the commissioner proposed a cancellation of expanded playoffs in 2021, along with the removal of the universal DH.

Although specifics weren’t given in regards to what these expanded playoffs would entail, it would essentially involve more teams making it into the playoff picture, which could have its benefits.

As for the universal DH – still a polarizing issue among fans, at least – most players appeared to welcome the idea, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

As per Passan, players’ concerns regarding this newly extended offer have much to do with “giving up leverage of playoffs for naught.”

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic later added to Passan’s report, noting that Manfred had stated in his letter that he truly believes both sides are “fighting over an impossibility on games.” His reasoning, he says, is that because teams now need to be relocated from Florida due to COVID-19 outbreaks, the earliest that players could report is June 29 – which leaves a total of 66 days to play 60 games.

Rosenthal soon followed with reports that players stopped their union meeting after Clark received Manfred’s letter.

Though Passan’s initial report calls the proposal an “olive branch,” as he believes this represents one last chance at an agreement between the MLB and MLBPA, it doesn’t seem as if Manfred’s offer will do much to sway the MLBPA – especially this late in the game.

Keep checking back in with MMO for the very latest on negotiations.