USA Today reports several baseball executives as saying if the players and owners can’t agree on a proposal for the 2020 season, Commissioner Rob Manfred may have no choice but to implement a plan without the players union’s approval within a week. The plan would call for at least a 50 game season. The players submitted a counter proposal to the owners plan from Monday asking for an 89 game season and players receive their full prorated salary. It’s expected to be rejected.
The MLB Draft is set to begin tonight in a new abbreviated five-round format due to the pandemic. Usually lasting 40 rounds, the 2020 draft will consist of only 160 picks with the first 37 to be selected tonight at 6 pm Central time followed by the remaining 123 to be chosen on Thursday.