MLB: ‘This needs to be over,’ Manfred says to union counter

NEW YORK— Baseball players proposed a 70-game regularseason schedule Thursday, a plan immediately rejected by baseball commissioner Rob Manfred with the sides 10 games and about $275 million (U.S.) apart on plans to start the coronavirus-delayed season.

As part of the union proposal, players would wear advertisement patches on their uniforms during all games for the first time in major-league history.

“This needs to be over,” Manfred said. “Until I speak with owners, I can’t give you a firm deadline.”

While the gap has narrowed, both sides remain opposed to additional concessions and their path remains uncertain.

“We delivered to Major League Baseball today a counterproposal based on a 70game regular season which, among a number of issues, includes expanded playoffs for both 2020 and 2021,” union head Tony Clark said in a statement. “We believe this offer represents the basis for an agreement on resumption of play.”

After Manfred met with Clark in Arizona, MLB said Wednesday there was a framework for the season. That plan included a 60-game regular-season schedule that would have $1.48 billion in salaries plus a $25-million players’ post-season pool, people familiar with that proposal told The Associated Press.

Manfred said Clark called him Wednesday night and said he was not going to present the framework to the union’s eightman executive subcommittee.

“I told him 70 games was simply impossible given the calendar and the public health situation, and he went ahead and made that proposal anyway,” Manfred said.