Report: Manfred threatens shutdown if teams don't follow COVID-19 rules

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is already warning MLBPA executive director Tony Clark of a potential season shutdown after just over one week of games, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Manfred told Clark the season could be canceled if players and staff don't better follow COVID-19 protocols.

Government officials are concerned by the lack of attention players are paying to the rules outlined in the return-to-play manual, Passan adds. Broadcasts have often shown players high-fiving and not wearing masks inside the dugout.

One high-ranking official said "there are some bad decisions being made," according to Passan.

Manfred possesses the power to cancel the remainder of the 60-game season without player consent.

Multiple players believe the season could be shut down as early as Monday if positive tests continue through the weekend.

The news comes amid an ongoing outbreak in the Miami Marlins organization, which is impacting the schedules of multiple teams. The Philadelphia Phillies won't make their scheduled trip to Miami next Tuesday, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

The league announced on Friday that 29 of the 11,895 COVID-19 tests returned positive, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Of those positive tests, 21 came from "a single MLB club" - the league didn't specify which team that was - while eight others came from around the league and included two major-league players.

The St. Louis Cardinals also had two members test positive Friday.

In an effort to ease the burden on scheduling, MLB and the union agreed to allow seven-inning doubleheaders effective Aug.1.

Manfred unilaterally mandated a 60-game campaign in late June after months of negotiations between the league and union yielded no compromise.

The season kicked off July 23 with the New York Yankees against the Washington Nationals, the latter of whom were without Juan Soto. He tested positive for COVID-19 and has yet to make his season debut.