Ever since the final out of the 2020 World Series, there’s been ongoing speculation regarding what the 2021 MLB season will look like.
How many games will be played? Will there be a universal DH? How about expanded postseason?
It’s possible to have some answers to these questions by the end of this week. However, the league does not have the authority to make these decisions unilaterally. Both the league office and MLBPA must agree to any of these changes.
According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, the MLB recently sent over a season framework proposal to the MLBPA. This proposal included 154 games with full pay for players, expanded postseason, and the season start to be delayed one month.
Proposed 154-game 2021 MLB season
To be very clear, if the season were to go 154 games, and there's no real guarantee of that, then the players would be paid in full. Also, you may recall, the union already has rejected expanded postseason. https://t.co/4oUGW8USch
— Tim Brown (@ByTimBrown) January 31, 2021
As of now, the start of the 2021 season and spring training is still officially scheduled for mid-February, meaning there’s a distinct possibility the 2021 MLB season resumes as normally scheduled. According to reports, there’s a strong belief that the MLBPA will reject this offer.
This rejection could go a number of ways. If the MLBPA does reject the league’s offer, the association has the opportunity to submit a counteroffer. If no counter proposal is received by week’s end, then clubs will report for spring training by the end of the month.
The clock is certainly ticking away for both sides. This entire situation is eerily similar to the league’s original postponement at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s a lack of alignment from both sides on how to properly move forward during a global pandemic.
Why exactly won’t the MLBPA sign on to this proposal? For one, this is a complex situation contingent on player health and safety, the power structure of both sides and concerns over revenues and player salaries. On the health and safety front, the MLBPA has expressed concern over any season delays.
Pitchers are well on their way to ramping up to the mid-February start of spring training and remain hesitant to halt this process.
Another concern surrounds the language of the proposal. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported concerns that this proposal grants MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred far too much executive power.
This proposal grants Manfred the ability to make executive schedule changes depending on the status of the pandemic, however, players are concerned this language grants him the ability to cut games and ultimately into their pay.
At this point, there’s so much mistrust and bath faith on both sides of the aisle, it’s almost shocking the MLB concluded the 2020 season with a champion crowned. Still, the lesson here is that the league will resume one way or the other. Shutting down means big financial losses across the board. For teams, for owners, for the league, and for players.
Fans will see MLB action in 2021, it’s just a matter of when, where and what it will look like.