TAMPA — The players have had enough. The deal for $470 million per year between MLB and TBS was apparently the final straw. After news of the deal broke on Saturday, union chief Tony Clark cited it and announced the players are done negotiating on the 2020 season restart after a 12-week coronavirus shutdown.
“It unfortunately appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile,” Clark said. “It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where.” Under the agreement reached back in March to advance some $170 million to the players for salary during the coronavirus shutdown, commissioner Rob Manfred has the power to implement a regular season structure by fiat if the sides are unable to reach a new settlement.