MLB owners are not alone in wanting the season to be delayed by a month. The federal government would like this to happen as well.
According to The Athletic, members of President Biden’s administration recently told owners that they would like the season to be postponed by one month so that players can be vaccinated until then.
However, the Players’ Association chose to leave this discussion, not wanting to be pressured to postpone. Except for an outbreak of COVID-19, the season will begin in time after the union rejected the MLB’s proposal for a 154-game season that starts late. The union has scheduled a subsequent call with government officials without MLB involvement.
The expected introduction of another vaccine, this one from Johnson & Johnson, was behind the government’s reasoning. Atlético reported that the MLB did not inform the Players Association about the details of the meeting, but rather the team presidents.
It doesn’t seem to matter at this point. The season, at least for now, should start at the right time.