Baseball is back: We will have a 2020 Cubs season
Time to rejoice, baseball fans.
Major League Baseball and the Cubs will return for a 2020 season.
The Players Association released a statement Tuesday evening stating:
“All remaining issues have been resolved and Players are reporting to training camps.”
The league also released a statement Tuesday night making the 2020 season official:
“Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon,” Commissioner Rob 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.”
A 60-game season will begin either July 23 or 24. Spring Training 2.0 will kick off next week (July 1), with the Cubs planning to work out at Wrigley Field. Marquee Sports Network will be the home of the regular season broadcasts, with pre- and postgame coverage.
In the statement, the league said it 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.”
The two sides have been negotiating for the last couple months, hashing out the number of games, pay and safety. No deal was struck, as the players turned down the latest proposal Monday evening. That led Manfred and the league to implement the season per the agreement from late March when MLB went into shutdown.
There is enough time in the schedule to accommodate 60 games and still end the season by late September.
The March agreement does not include expanded playoffs, so the Cubs will have 60 games to win their division or claim one of the two National League Wild-Card spots. The universal DH is still in effect for 2020 to help aid in player safety.
[MORE: How the Cubs might approach the DH spot in 2020]
The schedule and venues are not yet finalized, but it’s expected the Cubs will play their home games at Wrigley Field, at least to start. The schedule will consist mostly of divisional play and some games against regional opponents from the AL Central teams. This will help cut down on health risks associated with travel.