ORLANDO (SNN-TV) – Team owners will pitch a new contract to major league baseball players this weekend in New York.
Speaking earlier at the end of the quarterly owners meetings at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Commissioner Rob Manfred declined to officially postpone the beginning of spring training despite the large rift between the league and players on a new collective bargaining agreement that almost ensures pitchers and catchers won’t report to camps next week.
Manfred says he’s optimistic this deal might get them back to the diamond, and end the second-longest work stoppage in baseball history…now stretching into day 71.
“The status of spring training is no change right now. I am an optimist and I believe we will have an agreement in time to play our regular schedule. I see missing games as a disastrous outcome for this industry and we’re committed to making an agreement in an effort to avoid that.”
Manfred also stated that in MLB’s proposed deal they’ve agreed to the usage of a universal DH, as well as a draft lottery to address players’ concerns about clubs not competing.
