The Major League Baseball Players Association rejected an MLB proposal to shorten the 2021 season to 154 games. The MLB recently proposed the changes and offered to pay players for the usual 162 games in exchange for an expanded 2021 postseason.
The union released the following statement late on Monday:
“At the end of last week, the MLBPA for the first time in this off-season received a proposal from the MLB to delay the spring training and opening day by approximately one month.
According to the proposal, the end of the season would be postponed by one week, the regular season would be shortened to 154 games and all thirty teams would be forced to play several doubleheaders. Players would also be required to accept previously rejected proposals that link the expanded playoffs with the designated hitter’s expansion.
Although players’ salaries were not initially prorated for a regular 154 game season, the MLB proposal does not offer salary protection or length of service in the event of further delays, interruptions or cancellation of the season.
The MLBPA Executive Board and the players ‘leadership reviewed and discussed the owners’ proposal over the weekend and today. The clear result of these deliberations is that the players will not accept the MLB proposal, instead they will continue preparations for a 2021 season start and will accept the MLB commitment to again direct their clubs to prepare for a match. punctual.
We did not make that decision lightly. Players know firsthand the efforts that were required to complete the shortened 2020 season, and we recognize that significant challenges lie ahead. We hope to promptly finalize the improved health and safety protocols that will help players and clubs meet these challenges. “
Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues throughout the United States, MLB’s spring training is scheduled to begin in just over two weeks. However, Major League Baseball still hopes to delay the start of the 2021 season. The league cannot do this unilaterally, so from now on, spring training and Opening Day are scheduled.
That can change. 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 a month and extended a week
- Expanded postseason
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, several players believe that it is too late in the off-season to revise the schedule, which partly explains the reason for the union’s rejection. The two sides could revisit the idea of expanded playoffs and universal DH, but the union remains opposed to the idea of expanded playoffs, according to Rosenthal.
David Samson broke the most recent MLB / MLBPA negotiations in the last episode of Nothing Personal with David Samson. Listen below:
You should observe the 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.
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According to the league plan, spring training would start on March 22, 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 like the 2020 season.
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, which means that it would not have gained much from the rejected proposal.
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.