Following Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred’s discouraging comments regarding the weak prospects of a 2020 season on Monday afternoon, the MLB Players’ Association struck back swiftly and strongly.
Manfred, speaking on ESPN on Monday, said “The owners are 100 percent committed to getting baseball back on the field. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that I’m 100 percent certain that’s gonna happen.”
Union head Tony Clark issued a scathing statement early Monday evening, condemning the league’s threat to cancel the 2020 season unless the union waives its right to file a grievance against MLB.
“Players are disgusted that after Rob Manfred unequivocally told players and fans that there would ‘100 percent’ be a 2020 season, he has decided to go back on his word and is now threatening to cancel the entire season.”
“Any implication that the Players Association has somehow delayed progress on health and safety protocols is completely false, as Rob recently acknowledged the parties are ‘very, very close’.
“This latest threat is just one more indication that Major League Baseball has been negotiating in bad faith since the beginning. This has always been about extracting additional pay cuts from players and this is just another day and another bad faith tactic in their ongoing campaign.”
As always, we will keep you abreast of the situation.
