Seven weeks into what would have been the 2020 Major League Baseball season if not for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, owners approved a plan for which to begin play that was due to be presented to the Players Association.
It’s predicated on Spring Training 2.0 and the regular season taking place at home ballparks rather than centralized location(s), calls for expanded rosters and playing opponents that are within the same geographical region.
The owners are also proposing a 50-50 revenue split to the union, which is not believed to be of any interest for players. In March, MLB and the Players Association agreed to a lump sum that covered pay in April and May, and pro-rated salaries if and when the season began.
Another hurdle to clear is safety concerns. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, MLB will present the union with a thorough plan on coronavirus testing and overall health measures:
The league, which made a presentation Tuesday to the Major League Baseball Players Association on how to restart the season, soon plans to present the union with an 80-page document outlining potential health and safety protocols for the COVID-19 pandemic, sources said.
The document is expected to cover a wide range of topics, including testing, procedures for the possibility a player or staff member becomes ill and guidelines for clubhouses, hotels and transportation. The protocols will be subject to union input and approval.
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark previously said access to a requisite number of tests as well as a coronavirus vaccine were needed in order to begin the regular season. While MLB and other leagues conceivably could meet the testing mandate, several health officials have projected a vaccine would not be available until 2021, at the earliest.
Nonetheless, every indication continues to be all parties involved are committed to playing a season this year. With the league and union entering into negotiations, there’s some belief Spring Training could begin in June, and Opening Day being scheduled for some time in early July.
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