Baseball in November
MLB, players close on salvaging 162-game season
MLB and the players union are close to reaching an agreement on critical economic issues with hopes of salvaging the majority of a 162-game season, according to an MLB executive with knowledge of the negotiations, even if it means playing the World Series in late November. The executive spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.
The deal, which could be announced as early as Thursday – when opening day was scheduled – would include a commitment to play close to a full regular-season schedule as possible, provided the COVID-19 crisis dissipates and permits them to start a season in 2020.
The sides would like to play at least 100 games, scheduling regular-season games through October and including weekly doubleheaders. They have discussed the idea of expanding the playoff format to help offset the loss of income, while acknowledging that if weather becomes an issue, they could move the World Series and playoff series from cold-weather cities to a neutral site.
The biggest issue has been service time, which is close to reaching a resolution for a truncated season. The two sides are near agreement that if there’s a season of any length, players would receive credit for a full year as if it was a regular 162-game season, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said.
MLB’s best hope is to start the season around June 1 and no later than July 1, simply picking up the original schedule when it resumes, but are following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Once teams are given permission to start working out, it’s possible that instead of having their teams return to their spring-training sites for a minimum of two weeks, players will work out at their own home ballparks, reducing further expenses, and expediting the start before the new opening day. Teams likely will open the season with expanded rosters for the first month as well and instead of having 26-man rosters increasing to as many as 30 players.
It remains unknown how long MLB and the union would be willing to play with no fans permitted in the stands, how they would adjust the unplayed schedule to make it equitable for all teams, if there will still be an amateur draft or truncated version, and how minor leaguers will be paid.