Tom Verducci: "We are going to the point where one way or another the issue will be resolved"

On Wednesday night MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told SI senior writer Tom Verducci "There will be a baseball season this year. One-hundred percent" on MLB Network. While the owners and the MLBPA have not yet reached an agreement to begin the season, this quote from Manfred is showing what Verducci calls the "end game" to a long negotiation process. Verducci also shares what the potential scenarios are for MLB to begin this season.

Tom Verducci:

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred told me on MLB Network Wednesday night "There will be a baseball season this year. One-hundred percent." It's an indication we've reached the endgame to what have been long negotiations between the players and the owners. There are two scenarios in play. No. One, in the absence of an agreement per an agreement back in March between the players and the owners. The commissioner can schedule a season of his choosing. It's likely to be about 50 games that would bring players on a prorated basis, a total of about $1.2 billion. The other option is that there is a settlement, an agreement between the players and the owners. And in that case, the money going to the players will certainly exceed one point $1.2 billion. It's a question of how many games and how much money gets to that point of an agreement. But we're finally getting to a point where the issue one way or the other will be resolved.