Updated 2:54 PM EST
Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times confirms that Major League Baseball’s below-referenced proposal to the Players’ Association includes the adoption of the universal designated hitter for the 2021 season.
Per Shaikin, confirming Brown’s report below, MLBPA union representatives and MLB players are discussing the league’s proposal this weekend.
We’ll continue to update as more information becomes available.
Original Post
According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, Major League Baseball has made a new proposal to the MLB Players’ Association with regards to the 2021 season and the ongoing battle to control the spread of COVID-19 and offer players and staff a safe environment to return to work.
Per Brown, on Friday the league “proposed to the union a 154-game schedule with full pay, delayed by a month and extended by a week”, adding that the previously debated issue of expanded postseason play was included in the proposal.
The union is reportedly mulling the offer.
Last week, the Arizona Cactus League sent a letter to MLB indicating their concerns regarding a noticeable uptick in COVID cases across the region, and its coinciding with the start of Arizona-based spring training camps in mid-February and advising a delay to the opening of camps.
The letter — reportedly procured by MLB themselves (Alex Coffey, The Athletic) in an attempt to delay the season until fans can safely attend, in turn increasing revenue — was met with hesitance from the MLBPA regarding the league’s inability to unilaterally make these calls, also noting “MLB has repeatedly assured us that it has instructed its teams to be prepared for an on-time start”.
Between safe scheduling and the still-undecided fate of the universal designated hitter, there is plenty left to square away before pitchers and catchers are set to report to spring training.
We’ll keep you posted.
