According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, Major League Baseball has made a new proposal to the MLB Players’ Association regarding the 2021 season and the ongoing battle to control the spread of COVID-19 and provide players and employees with a safe environment to get back to work.
Per Brown, on Friday the league “proposed to the union a schedule of 154 games with full payment, postponed for a month and extended for a week”, adding that the previously debated issue of post-season game expansion was included in the proposal .
The union is considering the offer.
Last week, the Arizona Cactus League sent a letter to the MLB stating its concerns about a noticeable increase in COVID cases across the region, and coinciding with the start of Arizona-based spring training camps in mid-February and advising a postponement of the opening of the camps.
The letter – allegedly acquired by the MLB itself (Alex Coffey, The Athletic) in an attempt to delay the season until fans can safely attend, increasing revenue – was met with hesitation MLBPA on the league’s inability to make these calls unilaterally, also noting “MLB has repeatedly assured us that it has instructed its teams to prepare for a start on time”.
Between the secure scheduling and the still undecided destination of universal designated hitter, there is still a lot to resolve before pitchers and catchers are sent to spring training.
We will keep you informed.
