Yankees president: 'Get everyone in a room now' to resolve 2020 plan

New York Yankees president Randy Levine wants Major League Baseball and the players' association to return to the bargaining table immediately, as a return-to-play plan for a shortened 2020 season could be in jeopardy.

"Let's get everyone in a room now and resolve these issues so we can play ball," Levine said Tuesday, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday he's no longer confident the delayed season will occur - five days after publicly announcing he was 100% sure it would happen. Levine believes Manfred is doing everything he can to make sure baseball returns this year.

"I have been speaking to the commissioner every day," Levine said. "I know he is dedicated and wants to badly play a baseball season. I also believe that the players are the heart and soul of the game. I have said they are patriots and believe that."

Stalled negotiations between the league and MLBPA reportedly took another turn to begin the week, as Manfred is now reluctant to impose a schedule of around 50 contests because it may result in a grievance. The commissioner also needs approval from 23 out of 30 team owners to mandate a campaign, but it's believed that more than eight don't want a season.

"Under the March 26 agreement, the commissioner has the right to schedule the games as long as the players are paid pro rata," Levine said. "I don't believe that the issue is any longer about the number of games or money."

He continued: "(What I understand it is about is negotiating and reaching a conclusion) on other items in the March agreement such as the health and safety protocols, the conditions for players to opt out, (and) what happens if there is a second wave of the virus, and the season is paused again and issues such as that."