LOS ANGELES - Major League Baseball's players union on Monday rejected the latest deal proposed by league chiefs attempting to end the deadlock which has left the season in jeopardy.

ESPN reported that the MLB Players Association voted 33-5 to reject an offer put forward by the MLB which would have seen a 60-game regular season with expanded playoffs.

The rejection means MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred could now order teams to play a drastically shortened season.

The MLB and the MLBPA have been at loggerheads over how to salvage the baseball season, which should have started on March 26 but was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The league has proposed a succession of deals which would have seen the players receive only a percentage of their salaries, prorated by number of games played.

Players have pushed back against the league proposals, noting that they had already agreed to a paycut in March and should not be required to accept a further reduction in salary.

The MLBPA has requested a longer regular season with no paycuts, a proposal that has been firmly opposed by MLB owners.

The latest rejection by the MLBPA means Manfred could now unilaterally impose a season of around 48 games in length per an agreement with players reached in March.

Under that plan, players would be paid a full prorated portion of their salary.

AFP