Major League Baseball Plans Its Return
The baseball season could start as soon as July 4 if a proposal by Major League Baseball owners works out. The Associated Press reports that, earlier today, the owners approved…
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Spectrum Field on February 25, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Photo by Mark Brown/Getty ImagesThe baseball season could start as soon as July 4 if a proposal by Major League Baseball owners works out. The Associated Press reports that, earlier today, the owners approved a proposal, which will now go to the players’ union; this could lead to the delayed season starting around the Fourth of July weekend in ballparks without fans. The plan also envisioned expanding the designated hitter to the National League for 2020.
According to the plan, pre-season training would start in early to mid-June. The AP reports that their source spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the plan have not been announced.
MLB officials will apparently make a presentation to the union on Tuesday. The AP reports that each team would play about 82 regular-season games: against opponents in its own division plus interleague matchups limited to AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central and AL West vs. NL West; the report speculates that the All-Star Game will be canceled this year. One of the contentious points of the deal will be getting players to agree to a revenue-sharing model used by the NFL, NBA and NHL. However, baseball players have previously refused to consider those types of deals.
