A proposal that would delay the start of the season by a month and shorten it from 162 games to 154 with full pay was put on the table by Major League Baseball over the weekend, but the Players Association is expected to reject the overture, which also includes expanding the playoffs.
Discussions between the two sides have involved adapting a universal designated hitter, which the players want. MLB is in favor of a 14-team postseason, which players – citing the owners’ reduced need to be competitive and spend money in free agency knowing their chances of making the postseason are greater — are leery of.
USA Today reported the players would formally reject the proposal, which would also give commissioner Rob Manfred expanded authority to suspend the season.
A delay to the proposed start of spring training to March 22, with increased widespread vaccinations becoming available for the coronavirus and a decline in positive cases expected, could make for a safer environment in both Arizona and Florida, the two spring training locales. The start of the regular season, now scheduled for April 1, would be pushed back to late April. With a condensed schedule including seven-inning doubleheaders, the regular season could be extended by a week.
In this scenario, the playoffs could be extended well into November, which would likely enable more fans to attend games as the pandemic hopefully eases by then.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training Feb. 17, and about a dozen White Sox were already getting a jumpstart on preparing for the season. It’s not unusual for players to check in early at the facility to begin working out on their own, but it’s known the Sox have a sizable contingent that includes pitchers Dallas Keuchel, Garrett Crochet, Jace Fry and Jimmy Lambert, catchers Yasmani Grandal and Zack Collins and position players Yoan Moncada, Adam Eaton, Adam Engel, Danny Mendick and Nick Madrigal already getting acclimated. Players all around baseball are already at spring training sites, and reversing course and going back home would be more than a minor inconvenience.
The talks between MLB and the Players Association was first reported by Yahoo Sports.
