After almost two months of negotiations, the MLB is finalizing a plan to start the 2020 season. Players need to approve the safety plan and if they promise to report to camp within a week, then the season is officially on.
We will see a 60 game season with a universal DH and expanded playoffs. This is due to the length of the season and the fact that there will only be three divisions instead of six. The AL and NL division counterparts will merge together to form divisions. For example, the AL East and NL East will merge for this season. All regular season games will be played in home ballparks and within divisions only.
The players will be receiving prorated salaries like requested all along. They never gave into the owners and held their ground throughout negotiations to get what they wanted and what was right. In this set season, players also don’t have to waive grievances and could potentially opt-out if they don’t want to play.
Although the owners will lose money this year, not all hope is lost. There will still be TV deals, and even more games on national television than normal. Additionally, limited attendance at games may still be a possibility.
It’s great that the MLB finally got their act together and set up a season. The game of baseball needed this desperately, as the sport is already losing popularity and the negotiations certainly didn’t help with that. Baseball will also serve as a distraction during these unprecedented times.
Although the 2020 season may have an asterisk next to it, PLAY BALL!