MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is ‘100 percent' sure a 2020 season will happen

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The NBA and NHL have announced return to play plans. The MLS will return in early July with a World Cup-style tournament.

Major League Baseball? We still don't know.

The league and the MLB Players Association have been negotiating for many weeks, but the two sides still haven't found common ground on a plan for the 2020 season. The season has been delayed since March due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

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Despite the lack of an agreement, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is very confident we'll see baseball at some point this year.

Here's what he said before the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday night.

The league reportedly made a 76-game season proposal to the players on Monday that included 75 percent prorated salary. The MLBPA countered on Tuesday with a proposal highlighted by full prorated pay and an 89-game season schedule, per reports. 

The two sides appear fairly close on games played -- the gap is not too significant. Salary has been among the most intense issues in the negotiations, and the MLBPA has not yet moved off its stance on full prorated pay.

Manfred's commitment to playing baseball in 2020, and his comments about a forthcoming proposal from the league are both encouraging. That said, it's difficult to have much optimism about this situation until meaningful progress is made and an agreement is near.

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