MLB owners are not the only ones who want the season pushed back a month. The federal government would like to see that too.
According to The Athletic, members of President Biden’s administration recently told the owners that they would like the season to be pushed back a month so that players can be vaccinated by then.
However, the Players’ Association gave up this discussion, not wanting to be pressed late. With the exception of one COVID-19 outbreak, the season will begin in time after the union rejected MLB’s proposal for a 154-game season that begins late. The union scheduled a subsequent call with government officials without MLB involvement.
The expected introduction of another vaccine, this one from Johnson & Johnson, was behind the government’s reasoning. Athletic reported that MLB did not communicate details of the meeting to the Players’ Association, but informed the team presidents.
It doesn’t seem to matter right now. The season, at least for now, is expected to start on time.