MLB owners vote to proceed with 2020 season under March agreement | ESPN
While the latest league proposal was rejected by the MLBPA, a unanimous vote by MLB owners has given commissioner Rob Manfred the ability to impose a schedule.
Commissioner authority could prove to be more definitive than owner and player negotiations, but concerns over the coronavirus still exist. The league is reportedly asking players for approval on health measures, just days after spring training venues were temporarily closed.
Major League Baseball has asked the MLB Players Association if players can report to camp by July 1 and will sign off on health-and-safety protocols. The union has been asked to respond by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 23, 2020
In other words: MLB is planning on a season.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers tweeted on Monday that the player vote for the latest 60-game proposal was “33-5 against.” Of those five votes in favor, a vote from Colorado’s representation was reportedly one of them.
Daniel Murphy is a player on MLBPA’s eight-person Executive Sub-Committee. Kyle Newman of The Denver Post further reports that Scott Oberg is the Rockies’ player representative. “According to the MLBPA, [the representative list] is a constantly-changing list ‘due to trades, retirements, minor-league assignments and require new clubhouse elections fairly frequently.’”
Oberg spoke well of the collective decisions of players, even with a reported Rockies vote going against the grain. “We are proud of the collective unity players have shown throughout this process and we are excited to get back on the field to play for our fans.”
On Saturday, it was reported Murphy may have been a voting outlier:
Early word: 8-man union Executive Subcommittee may be near unanimous for rejecting MLB’s 60-game framework/proposal and instead letting commish set schedule. May be 7-1 for no w/Daniel Murphy seen as possible dissenter. Unpredictable but rank/file may also lean opposed to MLB 60.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 20, 2020
The players ultimately declined the MLB proposal. They “said in a statement that they expect Manfred to abide by their March 26 agreement, which allows the commissioner to set a schedule and guarantees the players fully prorated pay.”
MLB hitters who are missing their age-27 peak season in 2020 | ESPN
“When Bill James published his first national “Baseball Abstract” in 1982, one of his major studies showed that, in general, position players peaked at age 27.” One Rockie is currently missing that peak: shortstop Trevor Story.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield says of Story: “With a little improvement across the board he would be a strong MVP candidate and perhaps join Alex Rodriguez, Ernie Banks and Rico Petrocelli as the only shortstops to hit 40 home runs.” Story signed a two-year, $27.5 million contract last winter. If his peak at 27 is assumed, he has been unable to prove his value even further.
Other hitters currently missing their age-27 season are Javier Baez of the Cubs, Tim Anderson of the White Sox, and Max Kepler of the Twins.
Colorado Rockies: The greatest players to ever wear uniform numbers (51-60) | RoxPile
The numbers 51-through-60 in baseball are generally worn by pitchers. This list for the Rockies follows suit, with several current and recent arms making the list.
2020 MLB Undrafted Free Agent Tracker: Agreements For All 30 Teams | Baseball America
12 days have passed since the conclusion of the MLB draft. Catcher Luke Leisenring (South Carolina Aiken) remains as Colorado’s only undrafted free agent sign.
NL West teams have combined to sign 12 free agents. Of that dozen, half of them have signed with San Diego.