In the wake of the Players Association rejecting Major League Baseball’s proposal to delay the start of the 2021 season, Spring Training is expected to begin on time later this month.
That’s assuming the two sides can reach an agreement on health and safety protocols as coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue surging. The league hoped to push the season back by a month to give players more time to get vaccinated and offered full salaries over a 154-game schedule.
The union, however, felt that accepting such a proposal would have given MLB commissioner Rob Manfred more power to further shorten the 2021 season if the outlook hadn’t improved in a month’s time.
The MLBPA is so determined to start the 2021 campaign that they initially refused to speak to government officials on the matter over the phone. A meeting has since been scheduled for later this month.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration reportedly has already spoken with MLB and suggested delaying the season by one month, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
The union, by scheduling its own discussion with the same officials for a later date, avoided hearing what the government representatives suggested to MLB, according to sources: a one-month delay, with the idea of getting players vaccinated in time to start the season.
It appears that government officials have the same idea in mind as team owners, recommending delaying the 2021 season by one month so more players can get vaccinated before Opening Day.
With two vaccines already approved by the FDA for emergency use, a third one developed by Johnson & Johnson may soon enter the mix. However, the union hasn’t budged and likely won’t change their mind even after they speak with the Biden administration in the coming days.
MLB denies asking Cactus League for letter requesting Spring Training delay
Prior to MLB formally submitting a proposal to delay the 2021 season, the Cactus League wrote a letter requesting that Spring Training be postponed by a month, citing the high coronavirus infection rates in Maricopa County.
Team owners reportedly supported the letter, but MLB has since denied they had any part in encouraging the Cactus League to write it.
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