The Major League Baseball Players Association late Monday rejected a proposal by Major League Baseball to delay the start of the 2021 season for about a month. MLB wanted to begin spring training in late March in hopes for a late April start to the regular season.
MLB was further asking for a 154-game season, with more doubleheaders and expansion of the playoffs, along with the designated hitter. The players would have been paid their full salaries based on a full 162 games. After several days of consideration, the Players Association rejected the proposal noting a lack of salary or service time protections should the season be delayed or cancelled.
The PA expects all teams to report to spring training on its regularly scheduled date of February 17. The MLB proposal would have had the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues begin on March 22 with opening day on April 28. The season would have ended in November.
MLB and the PA could still agree on an expanded postseason, along with a DH by opening day, but the union still wants a full 162-game season, believing fewer games could damage its position in the next collective bargaining agreement negotiations, which expires Dec. 1. The union also believes fewer off days in a shortened season would be a safety concern. There also is a concern that pitchers have already begun working out in preparation for spring training starting in three weeks. Further, it would delay the minor league season approximately one month.
MLB believes it would be more prudent for the players to wait about a month until the COVID-19 vaccine is more widely distributed, and the rate of infection drops. It also would give teams more time to assess their policy of fans attending games in person, and protocols that would have to be set in place.
Whatever the case, with less than a month to the proposed start of a season, the game of baseball, a near $11 billion business, does not know its own rules. No date for further negotiations has been set forth at this time.
