Big League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) concurred on the health and wellness procedures and allowed commissioner Rob Manfred to complete a 60-game schedule for the 2020 season last week. If all things go to prepare, we are less than a month from routine season baseball.
While theres still adequate time for something to go wrong– like, state, the novel coronavirus forcing the league to once again reevaluate the logistics and knowledge of playing during a pandemic– weve chosen to describe a few of the expected essential dates and timeframes of the forthcoming schedule..
While were still waiting for the full schedule, we do understand a handful of crucial dates for the shortened 2020 MLB calendar..
Start of spring training: July 1.
In accordance with the arrangement in between the MLBPA and MLB, players are anticipated to report to their camps by July 1. Presumably there will be exceptions made for worldwide players, who might have their travel delayed by COVID-19. The exhibition season, whatever form it takes, will likely then begin faster than later, with the routine season slated to start about 3 weeks after the report date.
Typically, fans are believing about the trade deadline the last week of July. The league says it will begin the season on July 23 or 24. July 23 is a Thursday, so, in theory, the league might arrange a marquee game or two that night prior to introducing into a full slate that weekend.
Opening Day: July 23 or 24.
Normally, fans are thinking of the trade due date the recently of July. This year, it looks like late July will instead include Opening Day. The league says it will start the season on July 23 or 24. July 23 is a Thursday, so, in theory, the league might arrange a marquee video game or 2 that night before introducing into a full slate that weekend. What about the trade deadline? Were pleased you asked.
Trade due date: Aug. 31.
One rumor out there is that the trade deadline will be returned a month, to Aug. 31, or approximately to the midpoint of the season. Fair enough.
End of routine season: Likely Sept. 27.
The end of the regular season is anticipated to come throughout Septembers last days. That method the league can avoid playing regular season into October, pushing back the postseason and opening the possibility of the World Series (or other competition video games) being canceled due to another wave of COVID-19.
End of postseason: Likely prior to Nov. 1.
Just like completion of the regular season, MLB has been unwilling to run the year too deep into the succumb to worry that it will not be finished. Even before having training resumes, MLB reportedly has had many positive COVID-19 cases amongst gamers and staff in the last week.
The exhibition season, whatever form it takes, will likely then start quicker than later on, with the regular season slated to begin about three weeks after the report date.
