Reports Say MLB, Players Are Nearing Deal For A 2020 Season -- But Nothing Close Yet
BOSTON (CBS) -- Believe it or not, there is some optimism on the baseball front. A 2020 season may actually happen.
That comes according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, who is reporting that MLB and the MLB Players Union are closing in on an agreement.
The news came shortly after Heyman reported that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and MBLPA executive director Tony Clark had face-to-face meetings in Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday, chats that was reportedly "productive."
However, Evan Drellich of The Athletic gave a quick "not so fast" on the return of baseball.
As did the MLBPA.
Manfred did release a statement about his meeting with Clark on Wednesday afternoon, saying there is now framework in place for a return. But the two sides still need to agree on that framework, but sounds confident that will happen.
"At my request, Tony Clark and I met for several hours yesterday in Phoenix," Manfred wrote. "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."
Ken Rosenthal shed some light on MLB's proposal, which would have the 2020 season starting in just over a month.
So the carousel ride continues... but appears there is a light at the end of the tunnel after weeks of a heated back and forth between players and owners over restarting the 2020 season. The fight has been a roller coaster for the last few months, casting some serious doubt that there will be a season. Manfred expressed supreme optimism that there would be baseball just last week, but he walked that back Monday and expressed doubt regarding a return.
But all of the issues appear to be in the rear-view mirror -- for now -- with a new deal potentially coming in the very near future.
