Royals players worked out at The K Wednesday. Maybe we’re getting closer to baseball?
Baseball’s mixed messages continued to spread like wildfire on social media Wednesday, but Major League Baseball’s commissioner and a top union boss met in person and resumed discussions designed to get baseball started after a lengthy delay.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that he and MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark had come together on the framework that could potentially pave the way for a shortened season in 2020.
This came after Manfred said Monday during a televised interview that he was not confident there would be a 2020 MLB season at all. He went on to describe the current situation between the owners and players and their public barbs as “a disaster for our game.” Manfred also said he and Clark hadn’t had any interaction other than written communication in more than a week.
Those comments came on the heels of a weekend that included the MLBPA calling further discussions “futile” and seemingly breaking off talks.
MLB Network reporter Jon Heyman ignited Wednesday’s buzz when he reported that Manfred and Clark had met and that baseball and its union were closing in on an agreement to play this season. The MLBPA quickly denied any agreement had been reached, tweeting, “Reports of an agreement are false.”
Within an hour of that tweet, Manfred released a statement acknowledging he and Clark had met in Phoenix and come away with a “jointly developed framework” for a season.
“At my request, Tony Clark and I met for several hours yesterday in Phoenix,” Manfred’s statement read. “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. I summarized that framework numerous times in the meeting and sent Tony a written summary today. Consistent with our conversations yesterday, I am encouraging the Clubs to move forward and I trust Tony is doing the same.”
Shortly before Manfred put out his Wednesday afternoon statement, the Royals posted photos and video on their team Twitter account featuring veteran outfielder Alex Gordon, second baseman Nicky Lopez and outfielder and former Gardner Edgerton High School standout Bubba Starling taking batting practice and working out on the field at Kauffman Stadium.
Just seeing Royals on the field at The K provided an encouraging scene for local baseball fans.
The Athletic reported Wednesday afternoon that MLB presented a new proposal to the union that included playing 60 games in 70 days, a season starting July 19-20, players receiving full prorated salaries, expanded playoffs in 2020 and 2021 and the players waiving any potential grievances against Major League Baseball.
This story was originally published June 17, 2020 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Royals players worked out at The K Wednesday. Maybe we’re getting closer to baseball?."
