Manfred 'not confident' MLB will play 2020 season

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred walked back his statement of certainty regarding a 2020 season in an appearance on ESPN's "Return of Sports" special, which is set to air Monday.

"I'm not confident," Manfred said when asked about the probability of a season being played in 2020, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. "I think there's real risk, and as long as there's no dialogue (with the MLBPA), that real risk is going to continue."

Manfred said last week that he was "100 percent" certain MLB would return this year.

"It's just a disaster for our game, absolutely no question about it," Manfred added. "It shouldn't be happening, and it's important that we find a way to get past it and get the game back on the field for the benefit of our fans. ...

"The owners are 100 percent committed to getting baseball back on the field. Unfortunately, I can't tell you that I'm 100 percent certain that's going to happen."

MLB sent a letter to the MLBPA on Monday informing players that there would be no season unless they waived any legal claims against the league, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. Shaikin clarified that players would be unable to file a grievance relating to the way the league negotiated prior to a mandated campaign.

In response, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark released a statement saying, "players are disgusted that after Rob Manfred unequivocally told players and fans that there would '100 percent' be a 2020 season, he has decided to go back on his word and is now threatening to cancel the entire season."

This news follows the continued deterioration of negotiations regarding a return-to-play plan, which culminated in the league reportedly preparing to mandate a season of approximately 50 games.

But the commissioner's office does not want to force a season on the players due to fears that the union may take legal action against the league seeking financial damages, sources told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich.

MLB's goal is to come to a resolution that works for both sides, one source told Rosenthal and Drellich.

An agreement between the league and the union in March guaranteed that players would be entitled to full prorated pay and included the condition that the league give its "best efforts" to fit in as many games as possible. However, the agreement also afforded the league unilateral power to mandate a season so long as health and safety protocols were also met.

If MLB unilaterally implemented a 50-game season, the union could file a grievance against the league for failing to give its "best efforts" regarding season length.

The league's most recent economic plan guaranteed players 70% of their prorated play over a 72-game season.

Shortly after rejecting that proposal, the MLBPA issued a statement that said, "Further dialogue with the league would be futile." The league responded by expressing disappointment with the union's decision "not to negotiate in good faith over resumption of play."