As for almost everyone, 2020 has been a pretty tough year for MLB because of the pandemic of Covid-19 which has devastated the world and does not seem to give an inch, despite the fact that vaccines are already available. The truth is that there are no guarantees that the 2021 campaign can run normally and that’s why Major League Baseball is trying to promote the same rules it was played with last season for which it would begin in April.
Now, according to information from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, several sources close to Major League Baseball have told him that the team owners and the players’ union, MLBPA, are negotiating the return of the designated and extended universal playoffs to the 2021 season.
MLB owners are trying to push for the return of the extended playoffs for next season, but MLBPA instead wants to impose the designated universal, arguing that there will be more games and players need at least that in their favor to play Bell.
In addition, the union sees a universal designation as a better opportunity for players to get jobs in the 2021 season in a fairly slow market for almost all players.
So far, it seems that both sides have agreed to return the double in 7 innings, and the runner in second place in additional innings.