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 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 154 game season late to 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
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the players’ union is likely to reject the MLB proposal. Several players believe it is too late in the off-season to revise the schedule, notes Rosenthal. 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.
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.
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.