MLB rumors: ‘Significant progress’ on 2020 deal between MLBPA, league

It appears baseball fans finally have a reason to smile. Well, maybe.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Wednesday that "significant progress" has been made between MLB and the MLB Players Association on terms of a 2020 season after commissioner Rob Manfred and union chief Tony Clark met in Arizona.

Major League Baseball has sent a new proposal to the MLB Players Association, sources tell ESPN. No deal is done, but with Rob Manfred and Tony Clark having met, this is seen as significant progress considering where the parties were 48 hours ago.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 17, 2020

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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement Monday afternoon saying that the two sides "left the meeting with a jointly developed framework that we agreed could form the basis of an agreement."

Commissioner’s statement: pic.twitter.com/AQ3uJTv1Ow
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) June 17, 2020

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported, citing a source, that the MLB proposal includes 60 games.

Source: MLB proposal includes:

•60 games in 70 days
•Season starting July 19th/20th
•Full Prorated Salary
•Expanded Playoffs in 2020 and 2021
•Waiving of any potential grievance
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 17, 2020

Despite these reports and before Manfred's statement, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that MLB and its players union are "closing in" on an agreement to have a season this year. Heyman reports the deal is expected to come with prorated pay for players and expanded playoffs.

Breaking: MLB and players union are closing in on an agreement to play the 2020 season, via players. Deal expected to be for prorated pay and include expanded playoffs.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020

As part of the pending agreement to play the 2020 season between MLB and the players union, the union has agreed to waive any grievance.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020

However, the MLBPA announced that "reports of an agreement are false."

Reports of an agreement are false.
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 17, 2020

The two sides have been arguing for months, and Manfred said Monday that he wasn't confident a season would be played. It appears he's feeling a little more confident now.