TONY CLARK

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — (AP) — The Major League Baseball Players Association has voted to extend the contract of executive director Tony Clark through 2027. The 50-year-old Clark — who had a 15-year big league career, mostly with the Tigers and Diamondbacks — helped broker the players' current labor deal with MLB. After several contentious months of negotiations, the MLBPA and MLB agreed to the new deal in March, which saved a full 162-game season. The five-year extension means Clark is in position to lead the players through their next deal, too. He also helped the union add thousands of more players after the minor leagues voted to join the MLBPA earlier this year.

The Major League Baseball Players Association has voted to extend the contract of executive director Tony Clark through 2027.

Players’ union head Tony Clark says years of inattention by Major League Baseball has contributed to the World Series being played without any U.S.-born Black players for the first time since 1950.

Major League Baseball has adopted its first pitch clock, limits on defensive shifts and larger bases for next season in an effort to shorten games and increase offense in a tradition-bound sport.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Major League Baseball Players Association is joining the AFL-CIO, executive director Tony Clark said Wednesday. Shuler called it “an incredible moment for the labor movement.” Clark said baseball players want to strengthen their organization by supporting minor leaguers and becoming part of the AFL-CIO. The MLPBA on Tuesday asked management to voluntarily accept the union as the bargaining agent for minor leaguers. The MLBPA, which reached its first collective bargaining agreement for major leaguers in 1968, launched the minor league unionization drive Aug. 28. Players with minor league contracts, who earn as little as $400 weekly during the six-month season, would become their own bargaining unit within the MLBPA.

The Major League Baseball Players Association is joining the AFL-CIO.

Most minor league players make less than the federal poverty line. The Major League Baseball Players Association has asked MLB to voluntarily recognize the unionizing efforts.

Minor league players would have a separate bargaining unit from their big league counterparts. Clark, who played 15 years in the major leagues, credited the minor league players for “finding their voice." Clark stressed that if the minor league players decide to form a bargaining unit, it wouldn't siphon resources from the union's major league staff. In addition, MLB this year began requiring teams to provide housing for most minor leaguers. Clark said that if the minor leaguers decide to unionize, dues “will be minimal at most," acknowledging their current low compensation.

Major League Baseball Players Association head Tony Clark is confident that at least 30% of minor league players will sign union authorization cards in the coming days and weeks.

The Major League Baseball Players Association is attempting to unionize minor leaguers, reversing decades of opposition.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred defended the sport’s treatment of minor leaguers, prompting immediate criticism from the players’ advocacy group.

Andrew Miller, a two-time All-Star and dominant postseason reliever who helped negotiate the recent labor deal that ended Major League Baseball’s 99-day lockout, has retired at 36.

“One of the things that I’m supposed to do is promote a good relationship with our players,” Manfred said Thursday, after the end of baseball's 99-day lockout. I think that I have not been successful in that.”It’s perhaps the one point on which Manfred and players agree. “I know how that’s going to read, so Commissioner Manfred, don’t take it personal. Players have some ideas on where Manfred can improve — starting with the way he speaks publicly, especially about the game. Some players were encouraged by Manfred’s admission, which accompanied vow to prioritize strengthening the bond between management and players.

Rob Manfred and major league players agree on at least one thing: the commissioner has failed in fostering their icy relationship.

BBO Labor Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark, right, answers a question at a press conference in their offices, in New York, Friday, March 11, 2022. Major League Baseball's players and owners ended their most bitter money fight in a quarter-century, Thursday, March 10, 2022, when the players' association accepted management's offer to salvage a 162-game season. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (Richard Drew)NEW YORK — (AP) — Baseball players maintained unity throughout labor negotiations, yet were divided when it came time to vote on the deal. Team player representatives, the overall group supervising negotiations, voted 26-4 in favor, leaving the overall ballot at 26-12 for ratification. The committee differs demographically from the larger player group, with seven of the eight born in the 50 United States and Lindor from Puerto Rico.

Baseball players maintained unity throughout labor negotiations, yet were divided when it came time to vote on the deal.

Labor Baseball Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark answers a question at a press conference in their offices in New York, Friday, March 11, 2022. Major League Baseball’s players and owners ended their most bitter money fight in a quarter-century Thursday when the players’ association accepted management’s offer to salvage a 162-game season that will start April 7. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (Richard Drew)NEW YORK — (AP) — Major League Baseball players who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus won't be allowed to travel into Canada to face the Blue Jays in Canada and won't be paid for those games. The provision that they won't be paid is contained in a side letter between MLB and the players' association, and was first reported by Boston television station WCVB. “I think as everyone knows — appreciate and respect the decisions that are made, particularly in regard to player health and community health.

Major League Baseball players who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus won't be allowed to travel into Canada to face the Blue Jays in Toronto and won’t be paid for those games.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Now comes the test: Will baseball players be happy with their new collective bargaining agreement in 2026? Over multiple negotiations that has been a primary objectives objective of theirs,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said after Thursday’s deal ended a 99-day lockout. “It addresses a lot of the things that the players in the game should be focused on: the competitive integrity aspect of it.”Veteran players in leadership hoped to get more. The union’s executive subcommittee voted 8-0 against the deal: Zack Britton, Jason Castro, Cole, Francisco Lindor, Andrew Miller, James Paxton, Max Scherzer and Marcus Semien. I think that it begins with small steps.”___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Now comes the test: Will baseball players be happy with their new collective bargaining agreement in 2026.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee)NEW YORK — (AP) — Locked-out Major League Baseball players are starting a $1 million fund to support workers impacted by canceled games. The players' association said Friday the fund will be administered by the union and the AFL-CIO. Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday canceled the first two series for each team during the regular season, scheduled to start March 31. "Many aren’t seen or heard, but they are vital to the entertainment experience of our games,” union executive board members Andrew Miller and Max Scherzer said in a statement. “Unfortunately, they will also be among those affected by the owner-imposed lockout and the cancellation of games.

Locked-out Major League Baseball players are starting a $1 million fund to support workers impacted by canceled games.

Players rejected an offer on the ninth straight day of negotiations, setting the stage for MLB to follow through on its threat to cancel opening day.

Major League Baseball’s financial fight cost regular-season games for the first time in 27 years when often acrimonious talks to end a management lockout collapsed and Commissioner Rob Manfred scrapped March 31 openers.

Players have not said whether they agree to that as a deadline and could make due with a shorter spring training. The sides also agreed that the proposed lottery in the annual amateur draft would be for the first six selections. MLB characterized its tax proposal as intentionally lousy, in response to a union tax proposal teams felt was equally lousy. Clubs say they in turn are eliminating higher rates for recidivist teams that exceed the initial threshold in consecutive years. The union would raise the threshold to $245 million this year and increase it to $273 million by 2026.

Mets pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Francisco Lindor, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole and free agent reliever Andrew Miller were among the players at the talks. The sides arrived at noon, an hour earlier than every previous session this year, then caucused for nearly 2 1/2 hours. The union held a Zoom session for its player representatives, about 30, which has been its deliberative method. Fifteen minutes later, the MLB group returned to offices in the main part of the ballpark. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

MLB and the MLBPA will meet for a sixth straight day as the MLB Lockout ends its third month.

MLB and the MLBPA will meet for a sixth straight day as the MLB Lockout ends its third month.

Lockout Baseball Dusk falls over Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., just after MLB labor talks recessed for the night, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. Baseball labor negotiations moved to the spring training ballpark from New York as players and owners join the talks, which enter a more intensive phase with perhaps a week left to salvage opening day on March 31. (AP Photo/Ron Blum) (Ron Blum)JUPITER, Fla. — (AP) — Locked-out players were meeting with Major League Baseball on Saturday for the sixth straight day as management's end-of-Monday deadline approaches for a labor deal that would salvage opening day and a 162-game schedule. Players have not accepted Monday as a deadline and have suggested any missed games could be made up as part of doubleheaders, a method MLB said it will not agree to. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

While an agreement on the draft was not complete, talks appeared to gain momentum for the first time. The sides met three times Friday, in addition to the session between Manfred and Clark. That came after four straight days of largely fruitless negotiating sessions that focused on exchanging proposals in areas of relative minutia. Clark led a delegation of players that included Max Scherzer, Andrew Miller and Zack Britton from the union's eight-man executive subcommittee. Teams say they will never agree to the additional service time, which could lead to earlier free agency.

This was the fifth straight day the sides talked, and the first time Manfred was seen at a session. At one point, Manfred left the area where management was caucusing and spent 20 minutes with the players' group in the Cardinals' clubhouse beyond the right-field fence. Teams say they will never agree to the additional service time, which could lead to earlier free agency. MLB maintains Monday is the last day to reach an agreement that would allow openers to take place as scheduled on March 31. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Teams say they will never agree to the additional service time, which could lead to earlier free agency. MLB maintains Monday is the last day to reach an agreement that would allow openers to take place as scheduled on March 31. Players have not accepted Monday as a deadline and have suggested any missed games could be made up as part of doubleheaders, a method MLB said it will not agree to. The union told MLB if games are missed and salaries are lost, clubs should not expect players to agree to management’s proposals to expand the postseason and to allow advertisements on uniforms and helmets. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Baseball players and owners took a first step toward salvaging opening day, nearing agreement on an amateur draft lottery during lockout negotiations that included a surprise one-on-one meeting between Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark.

The sides met for the fourth straight day at Roger Dean Stadium, the idle spring training home of the Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals. Players have not accepted Monday as a deadline and have suggested any missed games could be made up as part of doubleheaders, a method MLB said it will not agree to. Commissioner Rob Manfred said on Feb. 10 that a minimum of four weeks of training are needed before starting the season. A deal by Monday would allow that plus a few days for players to report to camps in Arizona and Florida. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Another negotiating session produced only minor movement and no proposals on big-money issues, leaving Major League Baseball four days from management’s Monday night deadline for a deal to salvage opening day and a 162-game season.

After the third straight day of negotiations with little movement, MLB went public with what it had told the union on Feb. 12. Missed games are missed games. Salary will not be paid for those games,” an MLB spokesman said after Wednesday's bargaining ended. A shortened season would be baseball's second in three years following a 2020 schedule cut from 162 games to 60 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said on Feb. 10 a minimum of four weeks of training are needed before starting the season.

Baseball Lockout Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark, left, and chief negotiator Bruce Meyer arrive for contract negotiations at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Greg Lovett/The Palm Beach Post via AP) (Greg Lovett)JUPITER, Fla. — (AP) — Major League Baseball said Wednesday that the 2022 season will be shortened if no labor agreement has been reached by the end of Monday. Management had maintained that was the deadline for a deal that would allow the season to start as scheduled on March 31. Major League Baseball’s only new offer to players Wednesday was to increase the minimum salary by an additional $10,000 a year. MLB upped its proposed minimum for this year to $640,000, with the figure rising by $10,000 in each additional season of a five-year agreement.

At far left is Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark. (AP Photo/Ron Blum) (Ron Blum)JUPITER, Fla. — (AP) — In another day of minor moves as the deadline to salvage opening day on March 31 approached, Major League Baseball's only new offer to players Wednesday was to increase the minimum salary by an additional $10,000 a year. MLB upped its proposed minimum for this year to $640,000, with the figure rising by $10,000 in each additional season of a five-year agreement. New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer arrived in a black Porsche and Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole joined the talks on the third straight day of bargaining. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Baseball Lockout New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer gets out of his car as he arrives for baseball labor talks at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. At far left is Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark. Free agent pitcher Andrew Miller and Yankees reliever Zack Britton also joined the negotiations on the 84th day of the lockout and were alongside Houston catcher Jason Castro. Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, another subcommitee member, was at the talks earlier in the week. Britton, Cole, Lindor, Paxton and Scherzer are represented by Scott Boras, baseball’s most powerful agent.

Major League Baseball gave locked out players five days to salvage March 31 openers and a full season, telling the union that games would be canceled if a labor contract is not agreed to by the end of Monday.

Lockout Baseball Signs are posted outside Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Blum) (AP Photo/Ron Blum) (Ron Blum)JUPITER, Fla. — (AP) — Baseball negotiations resumed with renewed intensity Monday in an effort to salvage opening day, and Major League Baseball made slight moves toward locked-out players. With perhaps a week left to salvage opening day, union head Tony Clark attended negotiations for the first time since the MLB lockout began, accompanied by New York Mets stars Max Scherzer and Francisco Lindor. MLB on Friday canceled spring training games from Feb. 26 through March 4. Until now, all talks during the lockout had been in New York at the offices of MLB and the players’ association.

Lockout Baseball Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark, left foreground, and chief negotiator Bruce Meyer, second from left, arrive at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. Baseball labor negotiations moved to the spring training ballpark from New York as players and owners join the talks, which enter a more intensive phase with perhaps a week left to salvage opening day on March 31. MLB said Friday that it intended to have meetings with the union every day in the coming week. MLB on Friday canceled spring training games from Feb. 26 through March 4. Until now, all talks during the lockout had been in New York at the offices of MLB and the players’ association.

Baseball negotiations have resumed with new intensity in an effort to salvage opening day.

Pitchers and catchers are not starting spring training workouts as scheduled Wednesday.

ARLINGTON, Texas — (AP) — Hours into Major League Baseball's first work stoppage in 26 years, Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark presented diametrically opposed views of each side's negotiating positions that point to a lengthy lockout. “If you play without an agreement, you are vulnerable to a strike at any point in time,” Manfred said. They will not agree to any path for any player to achieve free agency earlier. “One good week of free agency doesn’t address all the negative trends that we’ve seen.”MLB would keep existing free-agency provision or change eligibility to age 29.5. The most negative reaction we have is when a player leaves via free agency.

Hours into Major League Baseball’s first work stoppage in 26 years, Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark presented diametrically opposed views of each side’s negotiating positions that point to a lengthy lockout.

Major League Baseball plunged into its first work stoppage in a quarter-century when the sport’s collective bargaining agreement expired and owners immediately locked out players in a move that threatens spring training and opening day.

Free agency restrictions and player salary disputes could cause MLB to suffer its first work stoppage in more than 25 years.

Tony Clark was a minor league prospect in the Detroit Tigers’ system and Rob Manfred a junior lawyer on management’s legal team during Major League Baseball’s last work stoppage.

World Series Baseball Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark speak before Game 1 in baseball's World Series against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, in Houston. Speaking Wednesday at Major League Baseball's regular owners' meetings, Steinbrenner said the CBT proposal was approved by the labor policy committee. If the agreement expires without a new deal in place, Major League Baseball could lock out its players — putting the start of spring training in jeopardy. The 27-year-old Correa batted .279 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs in 148 games this year, helping Houston advance to the World Series. Concerned with “tanking” by rebuilding teams and a slide in spending on major league payrolls, players want changes in the current deal.

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said he voted for Major League Baseball’s proposal to lower the luxury tax threshold, a plan opposed by the players’ union with the sport on the brink of its first work stoppage on 26 years.

World Series Baseball Members of the Atlanta Braves watch during the ninth inning in Game 5 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)HOUSTON — (AP) — Late innings means late nights in the World Series, with many fans struggling to stay awake as the Braves and Astros play baseball’s most important games of the year. The first five Series games averaged 3 hours, 41 minutes, up from 3:37 for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ six-game win over Tampa Bay last year. Sooner or later, Major League Baseball will institute a pitch clock — with or without an agreement with the players’ association. MLB experimented with a 20-second pitch clock during spring training in 2019, with a cutout on the first pitch of every plate appearance.

Late innings means late nights in the World Series, with many fans struggling to stay awake as the Braves and Astros play baseball’s most important games of the year.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred exchanged a handshake with players’ union head Tony Clark on the field before the World Series opener and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement before the current deal expires Dec. 1 but did not detail any progress in talks that appear headed to a lockout.

Ohio theme park guest injured by falling roller coaster part FILE PHOTO: A woman was injured at Cedar Point Sunday after a piece of a roller coaster fell from the Top Thrill Dragster and hit her. (AWelshLad/Getty Images)SANDUSKY, Ohio — An Ohio theme park guest was injured Sunday after a piece of a roller coaster fell from the ride and hit her. >> Read more trending newsThe woman was standing in line to ride the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster at Cedar Point around 4:30 p.m. when a part of it broke off and hit her, The Plain Dealer reported. “A small metal object became disengaged from a train on the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster as it was ending its run,” park spokesman Tony Clark told the Sandusky Register. The Top Thrill Dragster is one of 18 roller coasters at the amusement park.

Baseball is swinging and missing.

Amid the glow of baseball’s opening day, there's a cloud looming over the All-Star Game still more than three months away.

(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)NEW YORK – A work stoppage at the start of spring training 2022 seems increasingly likely after baseball players refused to negotiate with owners over a one-month delay for this spring training and regular season. “I hope we don't have a work stoppage. Clark said in an email he was not more worried about a work stoppage because of the current state of relations and that player anger at club behavior did not frame the relationship. AdSince the last baseball work stoppage, the NFL had a preseason lockout in 2011, and the NBA had lockouts that cut 1998-99 to 50 games per team and 2011-12 to 66 games per team. Publicly, baseball players and owners say they have to work together.

Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Tony Clark on February 19, 2020 at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Alejandra Villa Loarca | Newsday RM via Getty ImagesMajor League Baseball sees its future. The thing is, to get all this done, Manfred and owners will need approval from their long-time adversary – the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). In an interview with CNBC, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said he's "cautiously optimistic" the two sides can strike a deal on the framework of a 2021 MLB season. "We view the players as partners in our business and this season was only possible because of productive collaboration between teams and players.

The Cardinals will see if they can begin their series at Milwaukee after St. Louis became the latest team to get shut down by the coronavirus. The Brewers home opener was postponed Friday because two Cardinals players tested positive for COVID-19. TV Show suggestions please, tweeted Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty, who had been scheduled to start. Max Scherzer and the World Series champs wont play again until hosting the New York Mets on Tuesday. San Diegos plus-19 run differential (52 runs scored/33 allowed) is its second best through eight games in team history.

The virus also prompted at least two more players to opt out Saturday: Brewers All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain and Miami second baseman Isan Daz. I dont think its realistic to think that were not going to have any more positive tests, Manfred said. After two St. Louis players tested positive, the whole Cardinals team was given rapids tests Friday and saliva samples were sent to an MLB laboratory. Thats why we were reluctant to get into scheduling a bunch of doubleheaders just to play more games, Manfred said. In addition, Manfred says players and coaches should take advantage of the open seats in the stands near the dugouts and bullpens in order to spread out.

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Archie Bradley, left and catcher Stephen Vogt celebrate the 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers in a baseball game Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. Manfred and Clark talked about what needs to be done to finish the season, a person familiar with the conversation said. So its just like every other rule that MLB has for players now its going to be enforced, so to speak. I would rather not see any more positive cases.The six idled teams Friday represented 20% of MLB. Aside from the Marlins, there were eight positive tests for the 29 other teams, only two involved major league players.

The players association is surveying members and may propose either two seven-inning games for a twinbill or nine innings for the opener and seven for the nightcap. Phillies general Matt Klentak said seven-inning games are possible for the twinbill. Given modern usage of pitchers, Maddon said the shortened game would be the equivalent of starting the games in the third inning. The sixth inning, the fifth inning play differently, he said. The sixth inning, the fifth inning play differently based on the game supposed to conclude, he said.

It would be MLBs shortest since the 1878 National League season. There was still one issue in the manual of protocols still unresolved, several people said. Those provisions were in the agreement the union rejected Monday but were to survive as part of the operations manual. MLB claimed that without gate-related revenue it would lose $640,000 for each additional regular-season game, a figure the union disputed. MLB would claim the union bargained in bad faith, and the case would be argued before arbitrator Mark Irvings.

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2017, file photo, Major League Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark, answers questions at a news conference in Phoenix. Commissioner Rob Manfred says there might be no major league season after a breakdown in talks between teams and the union on how to split up money in a season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. The league also said several players have tested positive for COVID-19. An initial deal March 26 called for players to receive prorated salaries, but that agreement did not require MLB to play in empty ballparks. MLB offered 60 games and $1.48 billion from salaries that originally totaled $4 billion, plus a $25 million postseason players pool.

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2017, file photo, Major League Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark, answers questions at a news conference in Phoenix. Commissioner Rob Manfred says there might be no major league season after a breakdown in talks between teams and the union on how to split up money in a season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)NEW YORK An email from baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to union head Tony Clark led to a balk in the drawn-out talks to start the pandemic-delayed season. A rise in positive tests last week in Florida caused MLB to close all 30 training camps for deep cleaning and disinfecting. Twenty-nine of the 30 teams now intend to hold training at their regular season stadiums rather than spring training sites.

(AP Photo/LM Otero, File)NEW YORK The players' association was told by Major League Baseball on Friday 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. The union countered with a 70-game schedule as part of a proposal that left the sides about $275 million apart. MLB has informed the association that it will not respond to our last proposal and will not play more than 60 games," the union said in a statement on Friday night. That would be cut to $1.73 billion for a 70-game schedule, $1.48 billion for 60 games and $1.23 billion for 50 games roughly matching the total in MLB's initial proposal for an 82-game schedule with a sliding salary scale. In addition, MLB has offered a $25 million postseason players' pool.

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2017, file photo, Major League Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark, answers questions at a news conference in Phoenix. Commissioner Rob Manfred says there might be no major league season after a breakdown in talks between teams and the union on how to split up money in a season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. 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. Both MLB and the union proposed starting the season on July 19, and players said it should end Sept. 30, three days later than management. Both sides would expand use of the designated hitter to games involving National League teams, and both sides would expand the playoffs to 16 teams this year.

FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2019, file photo, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred speaks to the media at the owners meeting in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)NEW YORK Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred met with players' union head Tony Clark in Arizona in an attempt to restart talks aimed at starting the pandemic-delayed season. Clark has homes in the Phoenix area and in New Jersey, and he has been in Arizona since spring training was cut short on March 12. The union cut off talks Saturday, a day after MLB's last proposal, and said additional negotiations were futile. Players told MLB to unilaterally set the schedule but Manfred said MLB would not while there was a threat of a grievance.

NEW YORK Yankees President Randy Levine called on the players' association to resume negotiations with Major League Baseball to start the pandemic-delayed season. Players insist they get the full prorated salaries called for in the March 26 agreement with MLB. Everyone here wants to get down to business as soon as possible and play games. From what Ive discovered, the holdup is not about the number of games or money at this time," Levine said. He has been and continues to be dedicated to play a 2020 season, said Levine, who was MLB's chief negotiator from 1995-97.

(AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)NEW YORK Baseball players have moved toward teams but remained far apart economically in their latest proposal for starting the pandemic-delayed season, adamant they receive full prorated salaries while offering to cut the regular season to 89. MLB has said that absent an agreement it could go ahead with a shorter schedule of perhaps 50 games. Players made their move one day after management cut its proposed schedule from 82 games to 76. But players insist on full prorated salaries as specified in the March 26 agreement between the perpetually feuding sides. A 50-game schedule with prorated salaries would total just over $1.2 billion.

FIEL - In this Feb. 19, 2017, file photo, Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Players Association, answers questions at a news conference in Phoenix. More than 100 players, including the union's executive board, held a two-hour digital meeting with officials of the Major League Baseball Players Association on Thursday, a day after their offer was rejected by Major League Baseball. Earlier this week, Major League Baseball communicated its intention to schedule a dramatically shortened 2020 season unless players negotiate salary concessions, union head Tony Clark said in a statement. Players countered Sunday with a plan for a 114-game regular season with no pay cuts beyond the prorated salaries they agreed to on March 26. In this time of unprecedented suffering at home and abroad, players want nothing more than to get back to work, Clark said.