Although the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncontrolled across the United States, spring training is scheduled to begin in just over two weeks. The MLB expects to delay the start of the 2021 season, but cannot do so unilaterally, so from now on, spring training and Opening Day are scheduled.
That could change soon. Tim Brown from Yahoo! Sports reports The MLB recently proposed a structure for a delayed 154 game season for the MLBPA. Here are the main details of the proposal:
- 154 game season with full payout for players
- Season delayed one month and extended one week
- Expanded postseason
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Spring training would start on March 28, according to ESPN Buster Olney, and Opening Day would be moved to April 28th. The Wall Street JournalJared Diamond adds the expanded postseason would include 14 teams, not 16 as last season.
Delaying the season by a month and extending the season by a week suggests that there would be double matches scheduled throughout the season, even with eight games being cut from the schedule. Presumably, the universal DH rule, seven-entry doubleheaders and extra-innings tie are included in the MLB proposal.
Brown says the players’ union is reflecting on the MLB proposal and it should be noted that MLBPA recently rejected an offer that would give them universal DH in exchange for an extended postseason. The new proposal for the 154 game season is essentially the same offer, with just eight games less and a late start.
The MLB proposal seems reasonable on the surface, although the MLBPA does not receive anything as valuable as the expanded postseason is for homeowners. An expanded postseason equals tens of millions in additional revenue for MLB. The union is already entitled to full payment for 2021. They are not earning much from it.
As much as delaying the season makes sense for health and safety reasons, it all comes down to money. The MLB wants to play as much as possible with the fans in the stands, and delaying the season would help that now that the distribution of vaccination has started. MLBPA wants full payment, regardless of the length of the season.
Spring training camps are scheduled to open in mid-February and the Cactus League and Grapefruit League games will begin on February 27. The opening of the regular season is scheduled for April 1st.