Manfred: ‘100%’ chance of season, new proposal soon

NEW YORK » Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there is a “100 percent” chance of big league ball this year.

Major League Baseball will make another proposal to start the pandemic-delayed season in empty ballparks, but Manfred vowed Wednesday to unilaterally order opening day if an agreement is not reached.

“I can tell you unequivocally we are going to play Major League Baseball this year,” he said.

Manfred insisted the chance of playing this year was “100 percent.”

The players’ association made its second proposal Tuesday, asking for an 89game regular season and

100 percent of prorated salaries. MLB’s plan a day earlier was for a 76-game season, would guarantee 50 percent of prorated salaries and hinge 25 percent in additional money on the postseason’s completion.

“It will be a another significant move in the players’ direction in terms of the salary issue that has kept us apart,” Manfred said during an interview with ESPN before that network’s coverage of the amateur draft.

“We’re hopeful that it will produce reciprocal movement from the players’ association, that we’ll see a number other than 100 percent on salary and some recognition that 89 games, given where we are in the calendar in the course of the pandemic is not realistic,” he said.

MLB has threatened a shorter schedule if players insist on 100 percent of their prorated salaries. The union likely would file a grievance, contending a longer schedule was economically feasible and asking arbitrator Mark Irvings to award damages.

There has not been a big league schedule of fewer than 80 games since 1879.