The last major hurdle ahead of the upcoming MLB season was cleared when the league and players’ association agreed Monday night to the latest health and safety protocols. This season’s agreement builds off what worked in the 2020 campaign, but there are several additions to this year’s iteration.
“We have built on last year’s productive collaboration between MLB and the Players Association by developing an enhanced safety plan with the consultation of medical experts, infectious disease specialists, and experts from other leagues,” MLB’s statement read.
Taking note of what has helped the NBA and NFL, players in MLB will be required to wear a Kinexon contact tracing device while at the club’s facility, traveling with the team or participating in group workouts and practices. In addition to the sensor, each team must establish a contact tracing officer.
MLB also claims it will be more stringent when it comes to face coverings this season — including fines for noncompliance. Those face masks must always be worn when at the facility or in the dugout, however players on the field don’t need to wear one for games or warmups. Each club will appoint a face mask enforcement officer, and the money from any possible fines will be donated to charity.
On the field, the action will work similarly to the 2020 season, only spread out over the full 162-game slate. Doubleheaders will last seven innings each, and a runner will start on second base for extra-inning contests.
In the weeks leading up to spring training — which begins Feb. 17 — the league and owners presented a proposal to the players’ association to delay the beginning of the season and to continue using a universal DH and extended playoff format.
But the MLBPA rejected that idea and the latest agreement, reinforcing their desire to begin spring training next week and the regular season April 1. That latest agreement doesn’t include the DH in the National League, nor does it involve expanded playoffs — reducing the postseason field back to five teams per league rather than eight.
Last season, when a coronavirus outbreak struck the Miami Marlins early on, the franchise brought in 18 players to replace those infected on short notice. In an extreme situation, teams will still be under pressure to find creative solutions to roster issues.
The agreement between MLB and MLBPA took steps to alleviate that struggle, however, with rosters expanded one spot to 26 players before they expand again to 28 in September. There also won’t be a limit to how many pitchers are on the active roster.
Should an outbreak occur, the agreement allows teams to add players to the active roster on a temporary basis without needing to place them on waivers, outright them or option them once a team’s regular players return off the COVID-19 Related Injured List.
Teams have a five-player taxi squad on all road trips — which must hold at least one catcher — and MLB will use an alternate training site again to hold additional players.
“We were able to complete a successful and memorable 2020 season due to the efforts and sacrifices made by our players, Club staff and MLB employees to protect one another,” MLB’s statement read. “The 2021 season will require a redoubling of those efforts as we play a full schedule with increased travel under a non-regionalized format.”
In a new league-wide code of conduct, players and other essential staff members can’t attend any indoor gatherings of 10 or more people — be that restaurants, bars, fitness centers or entertainment venues.
On road trips, traveling parties can leave the hotel for few reasons, such as team activities at the facility or ballpark, or outdoor exercise. The club’s compliance officer must be notified before any members of the traveling parties leave the hotel.
The league has also expanded optional coronavirus testing to family and household members of players while continuing frequent player testing.
More than 40 games were postponed in 2020, particularly during early-season outbreaks. But the postseason was a success, with the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the World Series. Other leagues have managed to complete seasons during the pandemic, such as the NFL, while the NBA’s coronavirus outlook has stabilized. The NHL, though, has been hit hard by postponements in recent days.
As spring training approaches next week, MLB hopes the updated health and safety protocols enable the full 162-game slate in 2021 to go smoothly — or, at least, with as few bumps as possible in a pandemic.
“We all know the commitment it will take from each of us to keep everyone safe as we get back to playing baseball,” MLB’s statement read, “and these enhanced protocols will help us do it together.”
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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