Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Sports
Hannah Hagemann, NPR

MLB owners propose opening day in early July

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Grounds crews maintain the field at an otherwise empty Seattle Mariners' ballpark on Monday, May 11, 2020.
Grounds crews maintain the field at an otherwise empty Seattle Mariners' ballpark on Monday.
Elaine Thompson | AP

Major League Baseball owners will submit a proposal to the players' union to start its 2020 season in July without fans.

If the proposal is approved by the baseball players' union, opening day would take place around the July 4 weekend and spring training would start in early to mid-June.

Teams would play around 82 games in the regular season compared to the standard 162 games and would only play opponents in their own division or teams in the same geographic area. The proposal would also expand the playoff pool from 10 to 14 by adding a wild card matchup in each league.

Washington pitcher Sean Doolittle voiced concerns on Twitter over how exactly the League would implement safety protocols, such as testing and quarantining.

According to a source with knowledge of the plan, the July restart proposal lays out health and safety protocols for players and other employees attending games.

MLB owners are expected to meet with the players' union on Tuesday, where there is likely to be debate on the proposal details. In particular, part of the plan would reportedly require players and teams to share game revenues 50-50, a historic first in Major League Baseball that will likely be an obstacle in negotiations.

Because of the pandemic, players have already taken salary cuts and last month union leader Tony Clark told the Associated Press that part of the League negotiations "was over."

The plan reportedly factors in fans attending games in person at some point, potentially starting out with small crowds and gradually increasing the number of people allowed in stadiums.

But any scenario where spectators could watch games in-person would depend on the ability for large gatherings to occur, at the federal, state and local level.

In his daily press briefing on Monday California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to a question on the MLB July restart date and said he had spoken to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

"He said we won't do anything that's inconsistent with state guidelines" Newsom said, adding, "We'll see where we will be in July."

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.