MLB Owners Reportedly Still Want A Giant Postseason

MLB owners and the Players Association continue to talk about the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and the league has told the union they can still have a 162-game season.

That means they were bluffing about last week’s deadline, probably hoping that the added pressure would somehow force the players to accept a deal they probably didn’t want to sign.

That didn’t happen, and the league cancelled the first two series of the season.

The one thing that changed this week was MLB’s willingness to reschedule those lost six or seven games: they didn’t want to do it until this week.

In any case, the two sides continue to talk, and one of the topics being discussed is the possibility of a 14-team postseason.

MLB Wants Half The League In The Postseason

There are currently 30 teams in MLB (there could be an expansion soon, potentially adding two teams), and the owners want almost half of them in October.

MLB still thought to want 14-team postseason (their way, which means 3-game first round, not 5, and no ghost wins). 12 teams still may be more likely but 14 could be a bargaining chip. Players seem open to it, to a degree. Overall: More optimism last 2 days but still much to do.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 8, 2022

“MLB still thought to want 14-team postseason (their way, which means 3-game first round, not 5, and no ghost wins). 12 teams still may be more likely but 14 could be a bargaining chip. Players seem open to it, to a degree. Overall: More optimism last 2 days but still much to do,” MLB insider Jon Heyman tweeted.

Having so many teams in the playoffs is something players don’t really want.

First, players don’t earn a salary during postseason games, although they do have some earnings.

Second, it would mean that MLB organizations wouldn’t have much of an incentive to spend big in free agency, because it wouldn’t take much to be a postseason team.

If the leagues improves its offer on the competitive balance tax (CBT) and minimum salary, then players would be open to agreeing to a 14-team playoff format.