The Giants and A's reportedly could play as late as November this season, after MLB and the players association agreed to a deal Thursday outlining options for the 2020 season in wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported news of an agreement Thursday night. The players and MLB committed to playing as long of a season as possible, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported. The length of the season will entirely depend upon recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Nightengale, but both sides hope to play a minimum of 100 games.
Weekly doubleheaders, regular-season games in October and neutral-site World Series games in November as the weather gets too cold in some cities all reportedly are on the table.
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Players, regardless of the season's length, will receive a full year of service time towards arbitration and free agency as long as they are on the active roster or injured list for the whole season, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported. They would receive the same service time for 2020 as they did in 2019 in the event of the season's cancellation, according to Nightengale.
The sides agreed to pro-rate player salaries for the eventual length of the season, Rosenthal reported, and MLB will advance $170 million to the players through April and May. Players can't sue for their full salaries.
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MLB still will conduct an amateur draft of at least five rounds, Passan and Rosenthal reported.
Owners will vote to ratify the agreement Friday, according to multiple reports. Ratification would lead to a roster freeze, The Athletic's Evan Drelich reported, citing a source.