1 major hurdle cleared, 1 still to go before MLB can finalize 2020 season plans
When MLB announced Monday it would impose a 2020 season, the league requested two responses from the players’ association by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
1) Will players be able to report to camps by July 1?
2) Has the union signed off on the league’s health and safety protocols?
One of the hurdles has been cleared. The players have agreed to report by July 1 and play a 60-game regular season, according to the Source: union has informed MLB plan is for players to be in spring training by 7/1 and play the 60-g season, both proposed by MLB. Sides have NOT finalized health/safety protocols, but working on it.
The players have not yet signed off on the health and safety protocols, so the deal is not final.
We would make a joke about the sides’ inability to meet the latest deadline in this long, drawn-out, ridiculous process, but the health and safety issue is complicated, more so than it was even a week ago. It is understandable why that aspect of the deal could take a bit longer to lock down.
Within the last week, 12 members of the Phillies’ organization – seven players – have tested positive for COVID-19. All but one of those cases came in Clearwater, where the Phillies subsequently closed their spring training facility. When Spring Training II begins, it will be in South Philadelphia and at the Phillies’ Triple A facility in Lehigh Valley. Teams won’t be facing other teams, instead doing baseball activities on their own and holding intrasquad games.
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020Hearing Phillies will utilize the Triple A facility in Lehigh Valley, as well as Citizens Bank Park, to space out the group for spring training II, which could begin in a week if/when final health protocols are signed off on.
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS)
Hearing Phillies will utilize the Triple A facility in Lehigh Valley, as well as Citizens Bank Park, to space out the group for spring training II, which could begin in a week if/when final health protocols are signed off on.
— Jim Salisbury (@JimSalisbury215) June 23, 2020
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