MLB, MLBPA Reach Agreement on Stipulations for Return of 2020 Season
Major League Baseball owners came to an approved plan on Thursday evening that will address salary and service-time issues during the indefinite delay of the start of the regular season.
The MLB and players’ union met for nearly two weeks of morning-to-night negotiations involving players, owners, agents, executives, union officials, and commissioner’s office staff.
Within the agreement, players and the MLB agreed that the 2020 season will not start until each of the following conditions are met:
- There are no bans on mass gatherings that would limit the ability to play in front of fans. However, the commissioner could still consider the “use of appropriate substitute neutral sites where economically feasible.”
- There are no travel restrictions throughout the United States and Canada.
- Medical experts determine that there would be no health risks for players, staff or fans, with the commissioners and union still able to revisit the idea of playing in empty stadiums.
There was no formal framework in the agreement, but owners and players both want to play as many games as possible. Both sides were flexible in their willingness to extend the regular season into October. play neutral site playoff games in November, and even add doubleheaders to the schedule.
Thank you for spending #OpeningDayAtHome with us.
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— MLB (@MLB) March 27, 2020