It seems like things are changing every day as it relates to the return of sports to our country.
According to a report from Bob Nightengale in USA Today, baseball is looking for a return in June. That is when a second spring training would start.
The spring training would last around three weeks. The regular season would start the first week of July.
This plan will allow games in home stadiums with no fans.
It would be a 100 game season, with the playoffs starting in Mid-October. This could pose to be problematic if a northern team makes a deep playoff run.
You would be looking at mid- November for an end to the regular season.
There could also be a roster expansion from four to six players for the first month of the season.
MLB is considering a three-division 10 team league put together based on geography. Teams would play all 100 games within their 10 team division. This would do away with the traditional American and National Leagues.
This plan would do away with the need for players to be in quarantine. This would also do away with the need for long-distance travel.
Here is the proposal for the new divisions. The players association would need to give their approval
EAST:
New York Yankees and Mets, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins
WEST
Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners
CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers
With this proposal, the Rays would maintain their rivalry with the Yankees and the Red Sox.
Another sticking point is the issue of compensation for the players. With no fans in the stands, MLB executives have indicated that the players will need to take a cut in their salary.
This could be adjusted on a sliding scale based on how much money the teams will lose.
Revenue sharing is another issue that will need to be discussed.
This plan is all contingent on the COVID-19 testing becomes more available.
There is another rumor out there that there will not be minor
league baseball this season.
There is a proposal on the table that some of the top minor league talents could play in a developmental league. This league would play all of its games at MLB spring training facilities.
Minor League baseball has said there has been no decision made on the 2020 season.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has said in the past that he would like to contract some of the minor leagues. It is becoming more expensive for MLB to prop up these leagues, and that would save MLB some money.
