MLB commissioner Rob Manfred Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Report: MLB proposes 154-game season to players' union

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 1/31/21

Major League Baseball reportedly proposed a revised 2021 schedule to the players' union on Friday, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. The proposed revision is for 154 games and would delay the start of the campaign by one month.

MLB on Friday proposed to the union a 154-game schedule with full pay, delayed by a month and extended by a week, sources say. Also, with expanded postseason. Union considering.
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) January 31, 2021

The proposal includes expanded playoffs that would include 14 teams, which is two fewer than the pandemic-shortened campaign. It would also include a universal designated hitter, according to Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal.

MLB's proposal calls for a 14-team postseason, two fewer than last year. It also brings the DH to the National League. https://t.co/uJvNS7MtLI
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) January 31, 2021

Spring training is currently scheduled to begin on Feb. 27. If the MLBPA accepts the league's proposal, spring training won't begin until March 22, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. It would push the start of the regular season to April and extend the playoffs into November.

Under MLB's proposal, spring training would start March 22nd, and the regular season April 28, with the postseason carrying over into November.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 31, 2021

The league wants to continue altering the season, within reason, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Even though vaccines are being distributed throughout the country, a majority of Americans won't receive their vaccine until late spring/early summer, according to CDC projections.

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