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"From my perspective, despite the Twitter
bickering back and forth, and the posturing back and forth, I am
optimistic that we are going to play baseball this year,"
Stearns said Wednesday in a video call with media members.
"I am optimistic that both sides genuinely want to play baseball
this year, that there is a path to doing so, even if it's a
shorter season. Even if it's 50 games. I think that is doable,
and I think it is needed. I do think both sides recognize how
important it is."
Stearns added, "A lot of times in negotiations there is
rhetoric, there is back and forth, but at the end of the day, I
firmly believe we're going to have baseball this year. I believe
we're going to have a representative regular season; I believe
we're going to have a postseason."
Major League Baseball shut down spring training in mid-March due
to the coronavirus pandemic, and the potential timeframe for
Opening Day and season's length remain a contentious debate.
Team owners last week proposed an 82-game regular season,
accompanied by a severe pay cut for players. It is expected fans
won't be allowed in the stands when action resumes, badly
damaging the sport's economic model.
The players union replied Sunday with a 114-game proposal that
would see the players receive their standard salaries on a
prorated basis.
MLB rejected the union's plan on Wednesday without responding
with a counteroffer, according to multiple media reports.
Stearns said regarding the timetable for starting play, "From
what I understand, the farther you go into June, the shorter the
season becomes. So, at some point, you run out of time. I've got
no indication we are there yet. That's one of the reasons for my
optimism."
He added regarding another key issue that must be resolved by
the parties, "The health protocols involve a variety of
different 'players.' You've got state and local officials.
You've got public health experts. Then, you've got Major League
Baseball and the players association.
"The good news is I think all sides want to follow the advice of
health officials, and the state and local officials. So, we have
guidance there and I think we can work through it. On the
economic issues, there are different perspectives, and that's
natural. The unifying force here is that everyone wants to
play."
--Field Level Media
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