Finally progress!! to bad they lost most of July....
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Looks like Cubs are primed for the title. Let’s go!!!!!!Comment -
Should be very exciting. Every game counts. I like for a changeComment -
10:07pm: Any player or manager who comes within 6 feet of an umpire to argue a call could receive a suspension, per Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
8:27pm: The league issued a statement (via Mark Feinsand of MLB.com) saying it expects to start the regular season on July 23 or 24. Players will be able to opt out of the season, but only those who are at high risk of contracting the coronavirus (or living with a high-risk person or pregnant spouse) will be able to do so while earning full and service time, according to Nightengale, who reports the league will have the right to relocate teams to neutral sites during the regular season and playoffs for health and safety reasons. Also, Nightengale notes that the regular IL will be 10 days for all players. As was reported earlier, there will also be a COVID-19 IL with no specific length.
8:02pm: Teams will play 40 games against divisional opponents and 20 interleague contests versus geographic counterparts (East v. East, for example), Heyman reports. As expected, there will be a DH in the NL, Nightengale relays. Camp will begin July 3, but players will have to show up for spring training no later than July 1, Nightengale adds.
7:33pm: The league and union have reached a deal on health and safety, Karl Ravech of ESPN reports. Players will head to camp before July 1 in order to undergo coronavirus testing, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The next round of spring training will take place in teams’ home cities.
5:32pm: Even though they have made progress, the two sides aren’t guaranteed to reach a deal on health and safety tonight, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets. But if they do come to an agreement, the league would “likely” lift its freeze on transactions five days before the players report, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
4:45pm: Major League Baseball and the MLBPA are continuing to discuss health and safety protocols for a potential 2020 season, but it doesn’t appear the players will stand in the way of an agreement. The union has informed the league that the players intend to report to spring training 2.0 by July 1, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets. A 60-game regular season would begin anywhere from July 24-26.
After months of squabbling between the league and the players, this is finally a welcome bit of good news for those hoping to see a baseball season this year. Because it was unable to reach an agreement on a season with the union, the league decided Monday to announce a 60-game season – which the game’s 30 owners unanimously approved. Meanwhile, the MLBPA stated: “While we had hoped to reach a revised back to work agreement with the league, the Players remain fully committed to proceeding under our current agreement and getting back on the field for the fans, for the game, and for each other.”
The hope is that will happen, though it’s unclear how a season could look. For instance, we don’t know whether some or all teams will play in their home ballparks (that appears especially unlikely for the Blue Jays) because of the coronavirus, which has victimized a slew of people around the sport over just the past few days. And if a season does occur, it looks as if there will be at least a few notable changes to the way things are typically done. The bottom line, though, is that signs continue to point to the start of the 2020 campaign in just a few weeks.Comment -
On this day, June 24, 2020 it looks like we have baseball coming our way.Comment -
I hope not. It will be a total crap season. 60 games. NO fans. Different cities determining where and when games will be played IF at all. Players too worried about next year's contract talks to risk injury this season. We do not even know what happens if the season is cut short because of the virus, which seems to be a certainty the way things are going. I would opt out if I were a player. It is just not worth the risk.Comment -
Charlie Blackmon tested positive for Covid19.Comment -
Any longshots you guys like to win the World Series in this abbreviated season? I'm probably going to throw a few betpoints at some teams like the Reds who otherwise wouldn't have a shot in a 162 game season but in a 60 game season with the moves they made I think taking a shot with them at +3000 is worth a shot.Comment -
After months of return-to-play discussions, a shortened 2020 season looks to be upon us — and with it comes the long-anticipated and highly divisive implementation of the universal designated hitter. National League fans and baseball traditionalists recoil at the idea, but both polls we’ve conducted on the universal DH have shown that fans are pretty evenly split on the notion. In our poll earlier this spring, some were open to the idea for 2020 alone if that was one of the health/safety conditions necessary to bring about a 2020 season of some form.
That proved to be the case. And while there was talk about implementing the DH in 2021 as well, that was only on the table in the jointly negotiated season proposals between MLB and the MLBPA. The 2021 universal DH went out the window when no agreement was reached and commissioner Rob Manfred implemented a 60-game season. The two sides could — and very likely will — revisit a 2021 implementation this winter. Most expect that the DH will be here to stay, although for the time being, it’s still a temporary quirk to the upcoming campaign.
The expected lifting of the transaction freeze on Friday could lead some clubs to add a new bat to this mix — Yasiel Puig remains unsigned, and trades will again be allowed — but here’s a high-level look at each club’s options (with links to more in-depth explorations)…
NL West
- Dodgers: As explored earlier this spring, the Dodgers have a ridiculous amount of depth that should allow them to play matchups and keep their players fresh. With Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger in the outfield, one of Joc Pederson or A.J. Pollock was likely to be on the bench on a given day. Others like Max Muncy, Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernandez or youngsters Edwin Rios and Matt Beaty could get DH looks at times, too.
- Diamondbacks: The D-backs have a number of options, including veteran Jake Lamb, but 2019 minor league home run king Kevin Cron might be a more intriguing option, as profiled here a couple months back.
- Padres: Outfield has been a carousel in San Diego for awhile, and trades might’ve brought some more stability to the mix but they pushed some outfield options to a more likely DH role. As Jeff Todd examined recently, Wil Myers, Josh Naylor and Franchy Cordero are among the many options.
- Giants: That late pickup of Hunter Pence looks all the more valuable now, and the Giants have plenty of other options both young and old to rotate through the spot. Plus, they’re reported to be interested in Yasiel Puig, which could impact the mix.
- Rockies: Perhaps the DH could be a means of both keeping Daniel Murphy healthier and removing his glove from the regular defensive alignment. That’d help to finally get Ryan McMahon some more regular at-bats. Ian Desmond seems likely to get some reps as well.
NL Central
- Cardinals: The Cards already had plenty of inexperienced players vying for limited at-bats (Tyler O’Neill, Rangel Ravelo, Lane Thomas, Dylan Carlson), and the DH helps to create an easier path. Veterans like Brad Miller and Matt Carpenter could factor, too.
- Cubs: Kyle Schwarber has long been mentioned in DH talks. Defensive metrics are all over the map on his performance in left, but it seems likely he’ll get some looks there in 2020. Steven Souza Jr. could see some time there as he eases back into action after a grisly knee injury.
- Brewers: There’s a crowded outfield scene in Milwaukee, particularly after adding Avisail Garcia, which could mean that Ryan Braun will have the opportunity to stay fresher at DH. The Crew also added Justin Smoak, Jedd Gyorko and Ryon Healy this winter. There are options.
- Reds: With a deep outfield mix featuring Nick Castellanos, Shogo Akiyama, Nick Senzel and Aristides Aquino, Cincinnati isn’t short on options. As Jeff Todd wrote back in May, if the Reds are willing to use Senzel in a super-utility role (still playing near every day), their flexibility would be enviable.
- Pirates: I wrote last month that the Buccos’ options at DH are pretty limited. A rebuilding, small-market club that didn’t spend money this winter after a last-place finish doesn’t have much to offer. But the short season could be used to get top prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes an audition at third base, pushing current corner infielders Colin Moran and Josh Bell to DH more often.
NL East
- Nationals: The Nats have a deep roster themselves and plenty of options. MLBTR’s TC Zencka explored the roster’s composition and how it’s well-stocked with DH options — likely led by playoff hero Howie Kendrick.
- Braves: Atlanta has a blend of veteran options (Nick Markakis, Adam Duvall) and younger players (Austin Riley) who could cycle through the DH spot. It may not be the absolute best unit in the league, but the pieces are there for a solid group.
- Phillies: Between the versatility that Scott Kingery brings on the defensive side of things and the looming presence of top prospect Alec Bohm, the Phillies should be able mix-and-match their way to a largely productive group. Kingery allows them to rest virtually anyone on a daily basis — and they could particularly lean into that on days when Bohm plays third base. Bohm could also see time at first and push Rhys Hoskins to DH occasionally.
- Mets: A pair of aging veterans (Robinson Cano, wild card Yoenis Cespedes) and a blocked former top prospect (Dominic Smith) might all benefit from the addition of a DH spot to the lineup over in Queens.
- Marlins: Matt Kemp’s ugly 2019 season makes it easy to forget that he was a very strong hitter as recently as 2019. Connor Byrne profiled Kemp and several other options in exploring the Marlins’ DH picture earlier this spring.
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On this day, June 25, 2020 it looks like we have baseball.
I don't like the rule changes, I don't like a 60 game season but I'll take what they are giving me.
Both sides had best not screw this up any further.Comment -
On this day, Tim Lincecum threw his second career no hitter against the Padres.Comment -
Still another month to go, but finally some excitement!Comment -
After months of expectations that the shortened 2020 season would usher in an expanded playoff format, the inability of MLB and the MLBPA to come together on an agreement instead maintained the 10-team postseason status quo. The March agreement under which commissioner Rob Manfred implemented a 60-game season stipulated that playoffs could not be expanded unless negotiated with the Players Association. Expanded postseason play (and revenue) was the union’s main piece of leverage in talks, but when no agreement was reached, the playoff structure went unchanged.
Might the two sides still look to work out an agreement, though? Asked by Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark wouldn’t rule it out. The lines of communication between the league and the union “remain open,” Clark explained. “I would simply say that if there’s interest to discuss something, I’ll be available to discuss it,” Clark added.
Major League Baseball, per Blum, could yet make another attempt to negotiate an expanded postseason format. The main sticking point for the union had been length of schedule and prorated play. With a 60-game season now set and prorated play in place, the union would likely look to other concessions. Previous proposals exchanged between the two sides had temporary elimination of the qualifying offer system in place, for instance, although it’s easy to imagine teams forgoing QOs for all but the market’s most elite free agents this winter thanks to revenue losses.
There’s a wide range of other possibilities for the union to pursue. An expanded share of postseason revenue — players are currently only owed a share of gate revenue — future QO concessions, increased forgiveness of the $170MM advance payout of salaries from the March agreement and any number of other topics could be put on the table. With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire in Dec. 2021, the union could even proactively look to some broader issues that figure to prove critical in what will surely be a contentious negotiation next year.
Players have agreed to begin reporting to summer training camp by July 1, so it seems unlikely that this will be a drawn-out process. Clark and Manfred weren’t able to agree on much of anything over more than a month of contentious negotiations, which doesn’t exactly bode well for a swift accord in this case. That said, Manfred spoke to Blum of a need for both the league and players to have “less-charged” conversations. “We owe it to our fans to be better than we’ve been the last three months,” said the commissioner.
If the MLBPA is still amenable to postseason alterations, it stands to reason that ownership would have interest in one final attempt at the dramatic revenue increase that would accompany a larger postseason field.Comment -
On this day, June 26 2015, the aforementioned Ryne Sandberg resigned as Phillies manager.
Poor guy went through a hell of a messy divorce.Comment -
If the season is definitely happening then its better to get the 'rona now than in the middle of the shortened season. Not getting it at all is ideal of course. Pro athletes will be able to shake the virus off, it's no death sentence. You have to worry about the coaches, umpires, support staff that could be in the high risk groups.Comment -
This could be the year a long shot wins it all.Comment -
Major League Baseball is days away from a rapid-fire Summer Training, which will set the stage for a mad 60-game dash for postseason position, followed by a typically wild October … all while trying to manage the many challenges posed by the still-raging pandemic that disrupted the 2020 season in the first place. Sounds like a lot when you put it that way.
As one might expect, the typical roster rules for a MLB season would not work well in this scenario. Among other things, there’s a need for an actively engaged reserve corps of players with the minor-league season still on ice. Teams need a way to protect players who are injured or who contract COVID-19. The issue is all the more pressing in the early stages of the season.
MLBTR has learned and clarified many of the key details regarding the new roster rules. Here’s how things will work for the 2020 campaign:
- Each team can establish a maximum 60-man player pool, with the initial list due by Sunday at 3pm CST. Teams are not required to fill all sixty slots.
- No other players will be permitted to participate in camp. Teams are permitted to operate two separate camps if they so choose. All teams will operate an alternative training site once the season begins.
- Players on the 40-man roster need not be included in the 60-man player pool. Likewise, of course, pool players need not be on the 40-man roster — unless and until they are added to the active MLB roster.
- If a player is removed from a 60-man player pool, he cannot be added back to that team’s pool but can be added to another team’s pool. Players cannot be freely removed from the 60-man player pool without roster implications. Put otherwise: other than injured list placement, suspension, and some other infrequent designations, teams will be forced to surrender (or risk surrendering) control over a player (trade, release, DFA, outright, etc.) to remove him from the 60-man player pool.
- Teams may otherwise add already controlled or newly acquired players to their 60-man player pool. Players can be signed to the 60-man player pool without being added to the 40-man roster, but that requires 60-man player pool space (just like a typical minor-league deal requires space at a certain affiliate).
- The active MLB roster will consist of up to 30 players (and at least 25 players) at the start of the season. After two weeks of play, that number goes down to 28. After two more weeks, it drops again to 26, with a 27th player available for double-headers.
- Teams will travel with an unofficial 3-man taxi squad, the identity of which need not be disclosed. One player must be a catcher. There is no official designation or roster status associated with being a member of that group.
- As usual, a player must be on a 40-man roster in order to be added to the active MLB roster.
- Once a player is placed on the active roster, standard rules apply. Players eligible to be optioned can be sent back to camp just as if it were a minor-league affiliate. An optioned player must stay on optional assignment for ten days, unless called back owing to an injured list placement. Players who are not eligible to be optioned must be designated for assignment (and then traded or exposed to outright waivers) to be removed from the active roster.
- The trade deadline is August 31st. ONLY players in the 60-man player pool may be traded. Any player that is traded must go into an acquiring team’s player pool. (As a practical matter, it seems there’s nothing to stop teams from adding prospects to the 60-man player pool specifically in order to trade them. The acquiring team would need to be capable of carrying such players in their own 60-man player pool while still fielding a 26-man active roster of capable big leaguers.)
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