Headlines

  • Yankees Re-Sign DJ LeMahieu
  • Padres Re-Sign Jurickson Profar
  • Giants Reach Agreement With Tommy La Stella
  • Nationals Sign Jon Lester
  • Blue Jays To Sign Marcus Semien
  • Tigers To Sign Wilson Ramos
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

MLB Sends Postseason Bubble Proposal To Players Union

By Mark Polishuk | August 27, 2020 at 9:57pm CDT

Major League Baseball has submitted a proposal to the MLB Players Association about potentially holding at least part of the 2020 playoffs inside a multi-city “bubble” environment, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (Twitter link).  It isn’t yet known if the entire postseason would be played at neutral sites, or if the best-of-three first round series would remain in the home ballparks of the higher-seeded teams.

As initially reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter), the league has been in talks with the union about how to manage and conduct games at these “controlled sites” in order to limit city-to-city travel and thus limit the chances of a COVID-19 outbreak in October that would delay the entire postseason.  While details are “nothing close” to being finalized, as Rosenthal notes, MLB began preparing an operations manual regarding such a postseason scenario earlier this month.  As outlined by ESPN.com’s Emily Kaplan and Jeff Passan, the baseball’s plan would bear a strong resemblances to the NHL’s staging of the Stanley Cup playoffs in Toronto and Edmonton.

While the NHL is holding all games at two arenas, however, baseball’s plan may seem to involve five different stadiums and civic areas.  Southern California (San Diego and the two L.A. ballparks) and Texas (Arlington, Houston) still seem to be the favored candidates for these sites, as noted in the Kaplan/Passan piece, with Rosenthal adding that National League’s postseason teams would play in Texas while the American League teams went to California.  The World Series would be held in Arlington at the Rangers’ new ballpark.

It is quite possible that the framework of this plan would be changed over the coming weeks, and as talks develop with input from the MLBPA.  As of today, however, we are exactly one month away from the last day of the regular season.  One would think negotiations would need to progress pretty quickly to get a bubble environment launched by the start of the playoffs on September 29, though the possibility of the first round being played at home ballparks does allow some extra flexibility.

Share 0 Retweet 11 Send via email0

Coronavirus

Dodgers To Option Gavin Lux Back To Taxi Squad
Main
NL Notes: Mozeliak, Cards, Pina, Gausman, Bumgarner
51 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. lowtalker1

    5 months ago

    Padres should play in their own park

    1 Like
    Reply
    • CNichols

      5 months ago

      I mean I’m a Padres fan so that would be awesome, but it’s definitely not really fair. If you put the NL bubble in Southern CA then the Dodgers and Padres have a leg up on everyone.

      Angels aren’t going to make the playoffs so no AL team would have an advantage. Makes sense to put the AL teams in the NL cities and vice versa

      1 Like
      Reply
      • bradthebluefishbradthebluefish

        5 months ago

        I hear you about the leg up though I think that’s gonna have to be the case unless the MLB goes somewhere that doesn’t have an MLB team but has a large enough field. Charlotte, North Carolina?

        Like
        Reply
        • jbigz12

          5 months ago

          Players are not going to agree to a bubble in a minor league facility. It’ll be at MLB parks for sure

          Like
          Reply
        • looiebelongsinthehall

          5 months ago

          If a bubble, I realize weather is a factor, but the NE is the most stable area with respect to the pandemic and between NY and Philly you have three stadiums too.

          Like
          Reply
  2. dave frost nhlpa

    5 months ago

    Great plan.
    Should have done so for the season.
    NY/NY East
    MIN/MIL Central
    SD/ANA West

    Could have gotten away with playoff games is NY/ANA/SD

    1 Like
    Reply
    • oatbak

      5 months ago

      Agreed – if they were going to do it for the postseason they should have done it for the regular season

      Like
      Reply
    • mgomrjsurf

      5 months ago

      East Cracker Jack Stadium.
      Midwest Texas including where Cowboys play.
      Central a city with a Dome.
      West California.

      Like
      Reply
    • Eddie Nice Guy

      5 months ago

      I have to wonder at the idea that Milwaukee will be a bubble site.

      Like
      Reply
    • tigerdoc616

      5 months ago

      Far too many teams and players to do a bubble for the regular season. They had a plan using spring training sites in AZ and FLA but that was shot down by the players. Also two of the worst states for COVID. A bubble for the playoffs makes more sense and is far more doable than the regular season. Hopefully the players agree. Still, Texas has been one of the hot spots so there is some risk bubbling there. But they have two dome stadiums to use and that at least means no rain outs.

      Like
      Reply
  3. oatbak

    5 months ago

    A bubble stadium/site would impact baseball far more than other sports due to the differences in stadium configurations.

    Like
    Reply
  4. dirtbagfreitas

    5 months ago

    I vote for Frisco with how the ball is flying out this year and Denver. Let’s get weird with this thing.

    2 Like
    Reply
    • James1955

      5 months ago

      People in the Bay Area hate San Francisco being called Frisco.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • trendysayings

        5 months ago

        Maybe he means the AA baseball team in Frisco?

        Like
        Reply
      • Tom1968

        5 months ago

        sh——e full of druggies sounds better?.

        Like
        Reply
      • hiflew

        5 months ago

        People not in the Bay Area hate Frisco being called San Francisco. See what I did there.

        Like
        Reply
        • looiebelongsinthehall

          5 months ago

          When I moved to the East Bay for one college year, I was warned in advance to never say “Frisco”. That was forty years ago. Another thing that hasn’t changed.

          Like
          Reply
    • FredMcGriff for the HOF

      5 months ago

      I second that for Denver.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • inkstainedscribe

        5 months ago

        Plus, we could have snow delays!

        Like
        Reply
        • frank858

          5 months ago

          Denver doesn’t get snow until December/January. It’s rare if they get any before that.

          Like
          Reply
  5. philsark94

    5 months ago

    Great. Now we’re gonna go back and forth and delay the postseason and end up with a one game playoff between the best records in each league.

    Like
    Reply
  6. hiflew

    5 months ago

    Playing in the home stadium of the higher seed is the best way to do it. Otherwise, what is the benefit of getting a higher seed?

    They could do it like the NCAA tourney. Having seeds 1, 4, 5, and 8 play in the #1 team’s stadium and have 2, 3, 6, and 7 play in the #2 seed’s stadium for the first two rounds in each league. Then the 4 winners could play a Final Four of sorts at a neutral location.

    1 Like
    Reply
  7. Rangers29

    5 months ago

    Wait, so not only can the Rangers trade their assets for prospects, load up for 22′, and tank for Kumar… but we can also be home for the WS? Besides the stupid 3-0 mess, this might be a nice year for Texas.

    Like
    Reply
  8. Eddie Nice Guy

    5 months ago

    Hopefully the MLBPA has seen how bone-stupid its opposition to bubble sites has been. I wouldn’t count on it. If there is a stupid position to take, the MLBPA, the player agents, and their media cheerleaders will all locate it.

    4 Like
    Reply
    • gbs42

      5 months ago

      Ownership and the commissioner’s office sure know how to be just as bone-stupid, as you put it.

      Like
      Reply
  9. Prunella Vulgaris

    5 months ago

    I like the idea of playing in a warm climate or a domed stadium where they can play without frozen fingers.

    Like
    Reply
  10. bradthebluefishbradthebluefish

    5 months ago

    Can’t wait to hear how this blows up

    2 Like
    Reply
  11. yankees500

    5 months ago

    Time for Clark to try to one up Manfreds incompetence by finding something to complain about this

    Like
    Reply
    • Cey Hey

      5 months ago

      It is now time for America’s favorite new game show, Hold My Beer. Since no one won last week, both losing contestants will return tonight. Welcome back, Loser Rob and Loser Tony.

      1 Like
      Reply
  12. kreckert

    5 months ago

    Shocking. Major League Baseball is actually trying to do something smart. I guess the old adage about the stopped clock being right twice a day is true after all.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • Cey Hey

      5 months ago

      kreckert, Don’t be silly. Everyone knows there is no clock in baseball.

      1 Like
      Reply
  13. bradthebluefishbradthebluefish

    5 months ago

    They should pick a neutral site like Las Vegas or Charlotte.

    Like
    Reply
  14. jeffmaz

    5 months ago

    Without a crowd, is there even a home field advantage this year? And by bubble, do they mean that everyone stays in hotels near the stadium. If so, there’s definitely no home advantage. Just put them in the locations that have the best arrangements to keep the players safe. And there’s no need for home and away. Just play all the games in that location.

    Like
    Reply
    • hiflew

      5 months ago

      Well, there is in that each stadium has its own personality that the home team may be more used to. Colorado players are more used to breathing the thin air in Denver. Tampa players are more used to their godawful roof. Cubs players are more used to dealing with the ivy in Wrigley. Home field advantage is far more than just fans.

      1 Like
      Reply
  15. Rangers29

    5 months ago

    Just watch them not pass it, and then the WS matchup is Cubs-Yankees lol.

    Like
    Reply
  16. sufferfortribe

    5 months ago

    Has anyone asked Governor Nuisance how he feels about the idea? Heck, you can’t even get a haircut here unless you’re sitting outside in the parking lot…..in 100*+ weather. Geniuses in Sacramento.

    Like
    Reply
    • Patches O'Houlihan

      5 months ago

      We live in a goofy state, I don’t get the haircut thing.

      Like
      Reply
  17. GoLandCrabs

    5 months ago

    A playoff bubble makes zero sense. You’re not going to have 16 teams enter a bubble only for half them to be gone after 3 games or less. Once you reach the division series any COVID cases will mess up the entire postseason, bubble or not. Keep some level of normalcy and have WS games played at home parks.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • hiflew

      5 months ago

      So you think any COVID cases will ruin the postseason and your solution is to send teams to many different locations? There is no normalcy in 2020. Trying to find some is just a fool’s errand.

      Like
      Reply
      • GoLandCrabs

        5 months ago

        Each leauges playoffs is 3 series not counting the play in round. They will be fine without a bubble.

        Like
        Reply
  18. AZPat

    5 months ago

    Play all the games in Phoenix. Plenty of Cactus League fields and a dome too.

    Like
    Reply
    • bot

      5 months ago

      I agree. They can also get all these games in quicker by removing travel days.

      Baseball also needs to man up on playing through covid. If two or three people on a team positive then sit em out and keep playing. As soon as u make a playoff team forfeit due to covid- mlb will loose all integrity they have left. 18-45 year olds (according to numbers released in NY) have a .0001% chance of dying of covid. So play ball.

      1 Like
      Reply
  19. Briffle

    5 months ago

    Bubble needs to absolutely be done and done correctly. Baseball already looks like the red-headed step child of the sporting world for how they’ve handle the coronavirus. If they get lax or have improper protocols and have to shutdown a team in the playoffs, the sport will never heard the end of it.

    Like
    Reply
  20. nats3256

    5 months ago

    are we going to play the playoffs or is there going to be a social cause that needs to be protested?

    1 Like
    Reply
    • bot

      5 months ago

      I hear ya…..not upset with anyone protesting but it’s pretty shallow when it’s 1 game with no fans at the game and then u make up the game the next day. U sacrificed two innings lol wow. Good for u

      Like
      Reply
  21. wwilson237

    5 months ago

    I can see why they chose the stadiums out west but I think they should of just chose stadiums with domes like Houston, Miami, Arizona, Milwaukee or Toronto,

    Like
    Reply
  22. baseballallyearclub13

    5 months ago

    That’s going to kill east market fan bases if they start a bunch of the west coast games late. The past couple years (I’m a teacher) I know a lot of kids that either haven’t been able to watch teams play, or only get to watch an inning or two because the start time is so late and the games take so long in the playoffs. Is it better to start early and have west coast miss the start of the game, or start late and have the east coast miss the end of the game?

    Like
    Reply
  23. Gallops77

    5 months ago

    Use New York for one league, LA for the other. NY has Citi Field and Yankee Stadium within minutes of each other, LA has Dodger Stadium and Angel’s Stadium. You really only need 2 fields for each league because you can do 2 games per day, per stadium, a 12/1pm and 7/8pm game. Just set rules for the clubhouses and time teams can take to be in/out of the clubhouse. IF you need to delay the later game, you can. Worse comes to worse if a day game needs to be suspended, you suspend it to get the night game in.

    After the first round, you alternate days the teams play. LCS and WS would be back on a normal schedule.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • chiparm

      5 months ago

      That makes enitirely too much sense to be done. New York/New Jersey are heading down in cases while rest of country rises, yet. Texas and California are choices?

      Other areas that have multiple major league stadiums are Oakland/SF and Chicago.

      If you want throw in minor league stadiums, NY can add Brooklyn and Staten Island single A stadiums, which would need some refurbishing, but field wise, are major league size.

      Like
      Reply
  24. Ducey

    5 months ago

    The NHL managed 24 teams in 2 bubbles, and MLB can’t put 16 in 2 also?

    Can’t wait for the Dodgers to lose the Series not because of trash cans, but Covid.

    Like
    Reply
  25. Yankee Clipper

    5 months ago

    And…. this is why nothing can be accomplished. Imagine Mantle or Williams phoning the union about not playing in SD because it would be unfair. This generation is doomed….

    Like
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Yankees Re-Sign DJ LeMahieu

    Padres Re-Sign Jurickson Profar

    Giants Reach Agreement With Tommy La Stella

    Nationals Sign Jon Lester

    Blue Jays To Sign Marcus Semien

    Tigers To Sign Wilson Ramos

    Twins To Sign Andrelton Simmons

    Orioles Sign Freddy Galvis, Designate Chris Shaw

    No Players Elected To Hall Of Fame

    Phillies To Sign J.T. Realmuto

    Recent

    Yankees Re-Sign DJ LeMahieu

    Why I Don’t Use WHIP

    Padres Re-Sign Jurickson Profar

    Giants Reach Agreement With Tommy La Stella

    Mets To Sign Aaron Loup

    Nationals Sign Jon Lester

    Mets Showing Interest In Aaron Loup

    Testimonials From Trade Rumors Front Office Subscribers

    Mets Name Zack Scott Acting General Manager

    Yankees, Darren O’Day Agree To Deal

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Trevor Bauer Rumors
    • Kris Bryant Rumors
    • J.T. Realmuto Rumors
    • Marcell Ozuna Rumors
    • Masahiro Tanaka Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version