Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

MLB Playoff Expansion Negotiations Proceeding Beyond Deadline

We’re still here, and we’re still talking about MLB’s proposed playoff expansion from eight to ten teams. We’ve known for some time that there are going to be ten playoff teams in 2013. Getting that all set up for 2012 is a different animal.

Based on recent reports, it looks like a virtual certainty. One complication is that there was supposed to be a March 1 deadline to reach an agreement. According to sources, though, the consensus attitude is “whatever”.

Negotiators for baseball players and owners say there is no set deadline for an agreement to expand the playoffs to 10 teams this season.

But in recent days both sides said negotiations would continue beyond Thursday if they needed time. The sides spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the talks have not been public.

It’s possible that an agreement could be reached today. But if not, it’s not a big deal, because the deadline isn’t a deadline. There does exist some deadline, since these negotiations obviously can’t continue into the season, but March 1 was kind of arbitrary and so nobody involved is stressing out about it. The deadline for an agreement is “soon”. As time passes, it becomes “more soon”.

They should agree any day now. Assume ten playoff teams.

See More:

More in General

GeneralFromPosting and Toasting
An SB Nation New Yorker needs our helpAn SB Nation New Yorker needs our help
GeneralFromPosting and Toasting
General
Sabastian Sawe breaks 2-hour barrier, shatters marathon world recordSabastian Sawe breaks 2-hour barrier, shatters marathon world record
General

The mythical two-hour mark was broken at the London Marathon.

By Bernd Buchmasser
A Huge Dog
THE HISTORY OF CHARGING THE MOUND, EPISODE 1THE HISTORY OF CHARGING THE MOUND, EPISODE 1
Play
General
Super Bowl 60 coin toss resultsSuper Bowl 60 coin toss results
General

The Seahawks and Patriots will open the Super Bowl with the coin toss to determine who starts with the ball. We have the full coin toss results for Super Bowl 60.

By David Fucillo
General
Marc Marquez completes a comeback for the agesMarc Marquez completes a comeback for the ages
General

MotoGP’s Marc Marquez completed a comeback for the ages with his 2025 title

By Mark Schofield
General
How to make sure SBNation.com appears in your Google search resultsHow to make sure SBNation.com appears in your Google search results