Manfred: Shorter MLB schedule would probably mean lower pay for players

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo made headlines when he suggested he'd sacrifice pay to see the MLB schedule shortened. Commissioner Rob Manfred was candid in his agreement with that potential trade-off.

"I think that Anthony's comments were realistic in the sense that he linked the fact that if, in fact, you're going to go to 154 or some lower number of games, that players would have to be participants in that process," Manfred told the Associated Press on Friday. "They're going to work less, they're probably going to make less."

Rizzo, who stressed his opinion didn't reflect the thoughts of the players' union, was upset at the temperatures and weather, which have caused a record number of rainouts early in the season.

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark stated in July 2016 that even if Major League Baseball shortened the season, players wouldn't necessarily forfeit salary.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires following the 2021 season.