Major League Baseball announces 60-game regular season

The MLB Players Association on Tuesday agreed to health and safety protocols with Major League Baseball, and agreed to report to spring training by July 1, with MLB announcing a 60-game schedule for the 2020 season.

One of the most welcome tweets of the last few months was delivered by the MLBPA on Tuesday afternoon:

Here’s what we know about the 2020 season so far:

• On rosters, per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press: “With no minor leagues, teams would be allowed to retain 60 players each. Active rosters would be 30 during the first two weeks of the season, 28 during the second two weeks and 26 after that.”
• The 60-game schedule, when finalized will include 40 games against the National League West and 20 against the American League West, per multiple reports. That means the Giants will play 10 games each against the Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks, and Rockies. The schedule is currently being reviewed by the Players Association.
• Players will report to spring training July 1, and per MLB, “The vast majority of Major League Clubs are expected to conduct training at the ballparks in their primary home cities.”
• Opening day will be either July 23 or July 24.
• The trade deadline will be August 31, per multiple reports.
• The National League will have a designated hitter for 2020, per the Associated Press, and will also start extra innings with a runner on second base, the latter an effort to exceedingly long, extra-inning games that has also been in effect in Triple-A and Double-A in both 2018 and 2019.

In a statement, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said, “Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon. We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with baseball again soon.”