Sources: Players eye vote on MLB plan Sunday

ByABC News
June 21, 2020, 12:29 PM

Major League Baseball players intended to vote Sunday on MLB's latest proposal to return to the field after initially planning to delay the vote because of recent coronavirus outbreaks in training camps, sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

But it appears the sides are still negotiating terms. Commissioner Rob Manfred sent a letter Sunday to MLBPA executive director Tony Clark offering to cancel expanded playoffs and the universal designated hitter for 2021 if a full season isn't played in 2020, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The executive board met Saturday, and the players originally planned to delay voting on the proposal until they collect data on coronavirus testing after several outbreaks at training facilities and in major league cities, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

All MLB training camps have temporarily closed after multiple teams reported positive tests Friday, a source confirmed to ESPN.

The MLBPA said Friday that the league would not counter its proposal for a 70-game season, leaving the players with two options. They can accept MLB's 60-game offer with expanded playoffs, along with a promise not to file a grievance. Or they can reject it and force Manfred to implement his own schedule, potentially without extra playoff teams but still with their right to grieve the terms of the late March agreement between the two sides.