MLB owners and league executives are hoping to delay the start of the 2021 season until May so players can be safely vaccinated for COVID-19, according to a report from USA Today.
“I don’t see any way spring training starts in February,” one anonymous AL owner told Bob Nightengale. “Zero chance of that. I don’t care if we play 140 games, 120 games or 80 games, we have to make sure everyone is safe to do this right.”
Pitchers and catchers would typically report for spring training in February but there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in North America recently and team owners would like the season to begin after all players and staff members have been vaccinated.
On the flipside, the Major League Baseball Players Association wants a 162-game season to start on time so its members can receive their full salaries. Players received just 33 per cent of their salaries during 2020’s 60-game season and they believe they proved in 2020 they can follow health and safety protocols and adapt to new ones on the fly.
“I don’t see a snowball’s chance in hell that spring training can start with protocols in place,” an NL owner told Nightengale. “I think there will be significant pressure for players to get the vaccine first before they go to spring training, and if that has to be moved back to April and play 130 games, so be it.
“But to have 162 games, and start spring training at the normal time without players being vaccinated, that’s just crazy.”
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on Dec. 1, 2021.
