MLB: Winter Meetings
NEW YORK (AP) — The players’ association was told by Major League Baseball that teams will not agree to more than 60 games in the pandemic-delayed season, leaving open the possibility of an even shorter schedule of perhaps 50 games or fewer. MLB has been unable to cope with the economic dislocation caused by the new coronavirus and the prospect of playing in empty ballparks, reverting to the fractious labor strife that led to eight work stoppages from 1972-95. Still, if there is a deal both sides would include starting extra innings with a runner on second base.
The 30 franchises and MLB have a combined value that runs in the neighborhood of $50 billion. And they aren't scraping up another $150 million to at least make an offer into the middle ground and save the product from continued embarrassment.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 19, 2020
