A deal to put baseball players back on the field has finally been reached
After all the proposals that have been slung back and forward between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the players association without any progress, professional baseball might be back sooner than expected. It hasn’t been easy for professional baseball in recent years with major cheating scandals, and now the compromised season due to the coronavirus pandemic. After two months of trying to negotiate over money and not the passion for baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred finally intervened and now owners and players have made up. MLB season is preparing to kick off next month, most likely by July 23 or 24.
Manfred decided that 60 games will be enough to have a complete season, he explained on Monday. “Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon. We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with Baseball again soon,” he added. The player’s union already signed the agreement yesterday, so players are expected to begin training by July 1.
This shortened season will comprise 40 games to be played against division rivals along with another 20 interleague games. The initial lineup will include 30 players, but the teams are expected to present rosters of 60 players. The 30-men count is to be reduced to 28 after two weeks and then to 26 after the fourth week, according to Mark Feinsand with MLB.com. Additionally, there will be one designated hitter for the entire league and, if a game goes into extra innings, the second base will see a base runner every half inning so the game can be sped up.
