Major League Baseball and the players union continued to hold talks about safety protocols and health Tuesday, but the players have agreed to report to training camps by July 1 for a potential 2020 season, according to USA Today and ESPN.
A 60-game regular season would begin anywhere from July 24-26.
According to ESPN, one last health and safety issue needs to be finalized. Indications are it is not a big hurdle.
In the meantime, with concerns over the coronavirus that shut down the sport in March still hovering over the game, players were planning to be in their respective team cities next week to prepare for what would be an unprecedented shortened season. A normal schedule is 162 games covering approximately six months. This season will go about two months, with 10 teams participating in the postseason, as usual.
Other changes are likely, including a universal designated hitter for the 2020 season and a minor league rule for extra innings in which a runner is placed at second base to expedite the game — in regular season games only. Taxing rosters, particularly pitching, is at play.
Also, the new three-batter minimum rule still stands and pitchers, to avoid licking fingers because of health reasons, will be allowed to carry a wet rag in a pocket, according to Chris Cotillo of Mass.Live.
Cotillo also said managers and coaches and other non-playing personnel will wear masks, lineup cards won’t be exchanged with umpires before games, spitting will be prohibited (but chewing gum is allowed). Also, “fights are strictly prohibited.”
As for rosters, teams will likely be required to submit a list of up to 60 players, including their 40-man rosters plus add-ons that will be eligible during the season. Players not on the 30-man Opening Day roster will go on a taxi squad.
The active rosters will be reduced from 30 to 28 after two weeks and to 26 after four weeks, according to reports.
