After nearly three months of painful back-and-forth negotiations between the owners and players, Major League Baseball looks like it's finally coming back.
Monday's rollercoaster ride started poorly with the MLBPA Executive Board voting 33-5 against MLB's final proposal to resume play, which would have included a 60-game season, expanded playoffs, universal designated hitter and a $25 million playoff pool to players. With both sides unable to strike a deal, the ball was sent to commissioner Rob Manfred's court. Late Monday evening, Manfred finally took matters into his own hands and pushed the nuclear button. He imposed a 60-game season based on the March 26 agreement previously made between the players and owners.
In other words, play ball.
However, we're not completely out of the woods yet. Two final hurdles need to be overcome by 5 p.m. ET today for the season to become official and the schedule to be released. The players must sign off on a July 1 report date to spring training and also agree to MLB's 67-page health and safety protocols. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, "There is a strong expectation that the MLBPA will vote yes" on both measures.
Assuming both measures are agreed upon, the players will then have seven days to report to their respective ballparks. The regular season will begin on the weekend of July 24-26. The final day of the regular season will be Sept. 27.
That we are this close to having a major sport return is fantastic news for action-starved sports bettors. However, it's hard not to be completely frustrated by how baseball conducted itself throughout the process.
Baseball's popularity has plummeted in recent years, especially with younger audiences. It had a golden opportunity to seize the moment and take center stage, giving Americans a sense of hope and a much-needed distraction during a global pandemic. This could have reinvigorated the game and recaptured its title as America's national pastime, becoming a true feel good story that we all desperately needed during these tough times.
But it was not to be. If you were hoping for a July 4 Opening Day, expanded playoffs and the universal DH, sorry. All went out the door when the owners and players failed to reach an agreement. This now sets up another major battle after the 2021 season when the current CBA expires. If you thought these negotiations were rough, get ready for World War III in about a year and a half.
Still, it's worth looking on the bright side. Despite all the trials and tribulations, baseball is back. Finally, bettors have a major sport to get down on.
While we await the MLB schedule to be released, now is the time to start brushing up on futures prices and begin searching for value. Here are the latest odds to win each division, along with the American League, National League and the World Series at DraftKings.
AL East
Yankees -305
Rays + 350
Red Sox + 800
Blue Jays + 3500
Orioles + 25000
AL Central
Twins -130
Indians + 265
White Sox + 285
Royals + 10000
Tigers + 15000
AL West
Astros -182
Athletics + 300
Angels + 550
Rangers + 1600
Mariners + 10000
NL East
Braves + 215
Nationals + 250
Mets + 275
Phillies + 325
Marlins + 20000
NL Central
Cubs + 225
Cardinals + 240
Reds + 265
Brewers + 300
Pirates + 8000
NL West
Dodgers -715
Diamondbacks + 900
Padres + 1100
Rockies + 2800
Giants + 8000
American League Pennant
Yankees + 175
Astros + 350
Twins/Rays + 800
Indians + 1100
Red Sox/Athletics + 1300
White Sox/Angels + 1500
Rangers/Blue Jays + 5000
Royals/Mariners + 25000
Orioles/Tigers + 35000
National League Pennant
Dodgers + 170
Braves + 600
Nationals + 750
Mets/Cardinals + 900
Cubs/Phillies + 1100
Brewers + 1500
Reds + 1800
Padres + 2200
Diamondbacks + 3000
Rockies + 7000
Pirates + 10000
Giants + 12500
Marlins + 35000
World Series
Dodgers + 375
Yankees + 400
Astros + 650
Braves + 1300
Twins + 1600
Nationals/Rays + 1800
Phillies/Cardinals + 2000
Cubs/Indians/Mets + 2200
Reds/Athletics + 2500
Red Sox/White Sox/Brewers + 3000
Angels + 3300
Diamondbacks/Padres + 4000
Rangers + 8000
Pirates/Blue Jays + 10000
Rockies + 15000
Giants + 25000
Royals/Mariners + 50000
Orioles/Tigers/Marlins + 75000