MLB Spring Training games will not begin until at least March 18, the league announced on its website. Exhibition play had previously been scrapped through March 11.
It’s not a surprising delay, as it’s improbable there’ll be a new collective bargaining agreement in place to begin Spring Training games any sooner. There seems likely to be at least a week between the finalization of a new CBA and the start of Spring Training games. Teams will still need some time to conduct the remainder of their offseason work. Players will need at least a few days to report to camps before diving into gameplay.
MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem and union lead negotiator Bruce Meyer met informally yesterday, but Jon Heyman of the MLB Network writes (Facebook link) that sit-down “provided little in the way of progress.” The league and Players Association don’t have any further talks currently scheduled — although Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic tweeted this morning that the MLBPA is currently preparing a counteroffer to MLB’s last proposal. Talks are expected to resume some point soon, and it’s hoped the union’s reported willingness to again discuss a 14-team playoff field could kickstart negotiations.
Of greater concern to most than the start of Spring Training is when the regular season will kick off. The league has thus far canceled the first two series of the regular season, with the league’s website listing April 7 as the date for the first scheduled contests. It seems likely that’ll soon be further delayed as well, as commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated he wants a four-week Spring Training period (from the start of players reporting, not from the start of the first Spring Training game). MLB announced the cancelation of the scheduled March 31 Opening Day 30 days in advance. There are 34 days until April 7.
