40 corona cases in MLB

40 players and employees of the professional baseball league MLB have tested positive for Corona. The development is a new setback for the restart plans.

The professional baseball league MLB has suffered another setback in its season-opening plans due to 40 positive corona tests among players and employees.

As USA Today reported, the corona cases have increased the urgency to reach an agreement in the negotiations between owners and professionals on the season-start issue.

On Sunday, the players’ union MLBPA postponed a vote on whether it would accept the league’s proposal of a 60-match season including payment of pro rata salaries. Due to a deadlocked dispute between the league and the players, the start of the season, which was originally planned for March 26, has been on the brink of collapse for some time. Proposals by the league for a reduced season with salary cuts for the players had been rejected by the players’ union so far, the professionals want to play 70 games.

Commissioner Rob Manfred is said to have informed MLBPA President Tony Clark in an e-mail that even the hosting of 60 matches would be difficult due to the Corona Falls and the closure of the training facilities in Florida and Arizona. The league actually wants to finish the regular season by September 27th, the play-offs are supposed to take place by the end of October or beginning of November.