It is a distant memory now, but there was a point during the shutdown that it was fair to wonder whether or not there would be a 2020 season at all. While they were eventually able to come to an agreement on covid protocols, that only happened after the league and the union played out an ugly game of negotiations publicly and never did fully agree on the structure. Commissioner Rob Manfred instead implemented what turned out to be a 60-game regular season. Expanded playoffs were agreed to after the season began.
That was an ominous sign with the CBA set to expire at the end of the 2021 season.