MLB, players group agree to 60-game season starting in July

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association agreed on Tuesday to Commissioner Rob Manfred’s proposed 60-game season, with games starting in late July.

The league tweeted that players will report to a limited form of “spring” training on July 1 and that the shortest season in almost 150 years will begin either July 23 or 24. The player’s association agreed to the suggested health and safety protocols for the season to begin.

“The health and safety of players and employees will remain MLB’s foremost priorities in its return to play,” the league’s statement said. “MLB is working with a variety of public health experts, infectious disease specialists and technology providers on a comprehensive approach that aims to facilitate a safe return.”

“Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon,” Manfred said in the statement. “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.”

Each team will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and four games against the five clubs in the corresponding division in the other league to reduce travel, The Associated Press reported. 

Earlier Tuesday, the AP reported that MLB owners were planning to unilaterally issue a 60-game schedule for the series after the players association rejected a series of proposals. The league requested that the association answer by 5 p.m. Tuesday whether players could report to training by July 1.

The games will be held without fans. 

Negotiations were previously stalled over how long the season would last and how much money players would receive, CBS Sports reported.