Major League Baseball has not yet finalized any plans to expand the postseason, but it seems like an inevitability now that a TV deal is reportedly in place.
According to Andrew Marchand and Joel Sherman of the New York Post, MLB and ESPN are closing in on an agreement that would provide the TV network exclusive right to the first round of the playoffs.
What that first round of the playoffs will be is anyone’s guess, though.
Despite a TV deal being reportedly close, MLB and the players’ union still need to negotiate and agree upon when and if to expand the playoffs to include a best-of-three series. The current format includes 10 teams with a one-game wild card in each league serving as the opening round.
The deal with ESPN does not begin until 2022, but if a new playoff format is agreed upon, ESPN would have the rights to a new opening round beginning in 2021.
Last year, MLB and the players agreed to expand the playoffs from 10 to 16 teams due to the pandemic, which shortened the season to 60 games. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has been vocal about his desire to keep an expanded version of the playoffs, although a more permanent change would likely consist of 14 teams – seven from each league – with the best team in each league getting a bye while the others play a best-of-three to advance to the Divisional Series.
There are a lot of different factors at play in whether or not an agreement will be reached for expanded playoffs in 2021, such as whether or not a universal DH – something the union wants – will ultimately be a tradeoff for expanded playoffs.
Other factors include postseason pool money and whether or not an expanded playoffs in 2021 will be a one-off or can be attached to a new collective bargaining agreement beginning in 2022.
Also in the MLB/ESPN TV deal would be a reduction in national game broadcasts during the week, but maintaining ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
Per The Post, ESPN is in talks to keep Alex Rodriguez as the main analyst and play-by-play voice Matt Vasgersian is probable to return, although nothing definitive has been decided yet.
ESPN would also have flexibility to put games on ABC, but the deal is seen as an ESPN contract, according to The Post.
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