Report: MLB to present union with 80-page proposal on health, safety
Major League Baseball plans to present an 80-page proposal to the players' union that contains health and safety guidelines for resuming the season amid the coronavirus pandemic, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The document is expected to lay out the potential groundwork for COVID-19 testing, procedures for players or staff falling ill, and guidelines for team travel. It will be subject to the union's input and approval
News of the proposal came after the league reportedly held an hours-long virtual meeting with the MLBPA, with the primary focus being matters of health and safety, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Furthermore, Washington National reliever Sean Doolittle said Monday on Twitter that "health protection for players, families, staff, stadium workers, and the workforce" should be the most important aspect of any plan to restart the 2020 season. "We want to play," Doolittle added. "And we want everyone to stay safe."
No meeting between the league and union is scheduled for Wednesday, Rosenthal adds, but the two sides are expected to stay in regular contact.
Owners approved a proposal for the 2020 season on Monday, which the league will need to present to the players for ratification. Among the items included in the league's proposal were an 82-game regular season, an expanded postseason, and expanded rosters.