Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues unchecked across the United States, spring training is scheduled in just over two weeks. MLB hopes to delay the start of the 2021 season, but cannot do so unilaterally, so from now on spring training and opening day are on schedule.
That could soon change. Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports MLB recently proposed a framework for a delayed 154-game season for the MLBPA. Here are the main details of the proposal:
- Season of 154 games with full pay for players
- The season has been postponed for a month and extended for a week
- Extensive late season
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Spring training would start on March 28, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, and the opening day would be moved to April 28. The Wall Street JournalJared Diamond adds the extended postseason would include 14 teams, not 16 like last season.
Delaying the season by one month and extending the season by one week suggests that doubleheaders are scheduled for the season, even if eight games are cut off the schedule. Presumably, the universal DH, seven-innings double headers and extra-innings tiebreaker rule are included in MLB’s proposal.
Brown says the players’ union is reflecting on MLB’s proposal and it should be noted MLBPA has recently declined an offer that would have given them the universal DH in exchange for an extended late season. The new 154-game season proposal is essentially the same offering, only with eight fewer games and a delayed start.
MLB’s proposal seems fair enough at first glance, although the MLBPA wouldn’t get anything as valuable as the extended post season is for the owners. An extended late season equates to tens of millions of extra income for MLB. The union is already entitled to full wages for 2021. They are not getting much out of this.
However long the postponement of the season would be for health and safety reasons, it comes down to money. MLB wants to play as many games as possible with fans in the stands, and postponing the season would help that now that vaccination distribution has begun. The MLBPA wants a full pay, regardless of the length of the season.
Spring Training Camps will open in mid-February and the Cactus League and Grapefruit League games will begin on February 27th. The regular season opener is scheduled for April 1.