The never-ending CBA negotiations will likely impact the regular season, but they’ve already affected spring training. Normally, MLB players would be in Arizona and Florida preparing for a 162-game season. Once (if?) a new CBA is agreed upon, a shortened spring training will commence. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is weary of the ramifications of a contracted spring training according to an article by The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. Especially since the meat of free agency will be layered right on top.
“Now you’re trying to look at all these players that don’t have jobs right now and to sign guys [free agents] to fill out rosters and … for trades to go through, to assimilate with a new ballclub – all this stuff takes time.