Report: MLB Teams Open to October Regular-Season Games: 'Realistic Possibility'

Baseball could see its first-ever Mr. December in 2020.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Monday on SportsCenter that MLB teams and players both want to play as many games as they can during the 2020 season, which has been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, the two parties would be willing to extend the regular season into October, which would push the postseason into November and potentially December.

"That is a very, very, very attractive and realistic possibility at this point and one both sides are taking really seriously," Passan said.

Player agent Scott Boras told the Los Angeles Times' Mike DiGiovanna he submitted ideas to MLB that put the start of the regular season on June 1 or July 1 and had postseason running from Dec. 3-26.

"We have it all mapped out," Boras said. "It's workable. We've done climate studies, and in Southern California, the average temperature in December is 67 degrees, which is better than late March and early April in most cities. We have 11 stadiums we could play postseason games in. I'm gonna get my neutral-site World Series after all."

Passan and colleague Kiley McDaniel laid out the details of the agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association that ensured players get a full year of service time even in the event the entire 2020 season is canceled.

The deal also included the steps required to bring baseball back. 

Government officials will need to lift any restrictions on travel between the United States and Canada and allow for large mass gatherings, which are currently prohibited. Upon consultation with health experts, MLB and the players union will need to feel comfortable none of the coaches, players or fans will be at risk as well.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred would, however, have the ability to weigh the relocation of games to neutral sites and close stadiums to the public.

The New York Post's Joel Sherman reported Tuesday there's a growing consensus that MLB games will initially happen without fans, assuming the 2020 season starts.