MLB's Return To Play: What You Need to Know

The MLB is set to begin after the league and players’ union finalized an agreement to play the 2020 season.

The MLBPA have communicated that all players will report to spring training by July 1, 2020 per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The biggest and final issue between the two sides was the safety and health protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was the main reason for the delayed season to begin with.

Now that the league and players agreed on terms to play, setting the Opening Day for league play on weekend of July 23-26.

All remaining issues have been resolved and Players are reporting to training camps.
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 24, 2020

The MLB and MLBPA have been negotiating on a plan to play agreement for months, but the 60 game season will be the shortest season since 1901.

Ranger Stadium Globe Life — *Photo: Texas Rangers*

After all of the terms have been agreed to, here are the major hitting points for the 2020 MLB season.

60 Game season beginning July 23-24
Full prorated salary; no salary forgiveness for the previous salary distributed
Spring Training to officially begin July 3
Universal DH for both leagues
Extra innings will begin with a runner on second base
MLB Trade Deadline August 31
40 Games vs Divisional opponents, 20 Interleague games
Injured List will be 10 Days for all players, per Bob Nightengale
Non-Expanded Playoff bracket
High risk player opt out

The MLB will also reserve the right to relocate teams to neutral sites due to health and safety concerns, including the playoffs. All players will be undergoing coronavirus testing upon arrival at spring training.

Teams will submit a 60 player roster to the league office by Sunday, June 28 by 3 p.m. ET for spring training, according to Jayson Stark of The Athletic. The league will also have a COVID-19 inactive list for players showing symptoms or testing positive for the virus. There is no specific time for the player to have to sit out yet.

Games with fans seem highly unlikely, as the numbers continue to rise in positive cases of COVID-19. With the NBA having already made the decision to play games without fans, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the MLB opts to keep fans out of games for the entire shortened season.

A shortened season is nothing to scoff at, as the MLB and MLBPA have gone back and forth in negotiations that seemed to lead nowhere at times. Rob Manfred and the league decided to implement the season according to the March 26 agreement, and now baseball is on track to be played.