As many New York Yankees travel north for spring training 2.0 that can’t start until June 29th at the earliest, MLBPA (players union) has still not voted on the latest MLB contract. All of this with steadily rising cases of the coronavirus lurking in the background. With the alarming rise in cases, that background may become the foreground. It has been reported that there were 40 new cases of the virus among players and staff at spring camps.
The rise in cases has caused MLB to close all spring training camps in Florida and Arizona in favor of playing a second spring training in home parks. The Philadelphia Phillies were the hardest hit with eight cases that included players. The New York Yankees have reported four cases of staff at the George M. Steinbrenner training complex in Tampa, but that total did not involve any players.
It was hoped that the coronavirus would cease as the summer heat settled in, but that has not been the case with now 24 states reporting increased infection rates. It is not clear if that is because of more testing or as the result of the opening of the economies for many states. It appears that the states that opened earlier are having the highest rate of increase. Florida seems to be becoming the new epicenter for the disease.
If there is a baseball season, the coronavirus may have a more significant stake in how long a season becomes. The owners want a shorter season to prevent the cancelation of the World Series as a second wave of the virus sets in as the flu season starts. Their last offer to the players was a 60 game season. The players seem ready to reject that as they have countered with a 70 game season that will allow them more pay. The MLB owners flatly rejected that counter offer.
Over the weekend, the MLBPA delayed a vote on the 60 game plan as the MLB offered an additional olive branch. Commissioner Rob Manfred sent a letter to executive director Tony Clark offering the cancellation of expanded playoffs and the universal designated hitter for 2021, on top of the conditions already featured in the 60-game package, if this season does not complete the World Series due to the coronavirus.
With every day that passes, it is less likely that the players will get there wish for more played games, forcing Manfred to impose a season more to the liking of owners (48-54 games). If Manfred does impose a season, no one wins as both sides of the negotiations could be subject to filed grievances. All of this creates a big black eye for a sport that is already in decline.
As the negotiations drag on, the season is quickly dwindling. Whatever is decided upon or imposed, the coronavirus may very well end up being the deciding factor in what a season might look like. More and more owners are beginning to share the thought that no season may be better than one that may be canceled. As it now appears, games in Florida, Texas, Calfornia, and Arizona home parks are in question.
The good news for the New York Yankees is that Governor Andrew Cuomo has openly encouraged the Yankees and the New York Mets to play games in the New York Stadiums. He has indicated that the state is ready to work with MLB to provide a plan that works. With time running out for both sides of the negotiations, a player vote and an MLB decision will be likely forthcoming this week if there is to be any 2020 baseball season.